The Argosy, Vol. XI, No. 22 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

306 ‘¢ Ah, that is how it happened,” cried the latter, when he had finisheds ‘Come in, boys, come in. And so the scoundrels are arrested, eh ? Good enough for them! TI remember taking refuge in the house, but from then until I came back home is perfectly blank. And you helped me out of their clutches, eh ? You've pot to stay to dinner, any way, so you might just as well hitch and come in.” And the boys were forced to‘ hitch and come in,” and they found Brown was quite a jolly individual, after all, and he wanted to pay them for their trouble, which they wouldn't listen to, and finally they de- parted, highly elated in being able to restore his pack. And when they reached Kirkville they found Uncle Jim propped up in a big chair, waiting for them. Mason had arrived five héurs before, and slinking off home, stayed there. ' Back again !" shouted Uncle Jim lustily, as they drew up before his door. ‘* Back again,” repeated Dick cheerily. ‘‘ How Js that limb?” ‘ 1'd be around on crutches if ] had my own way; but Mrs. B. has the advantage of me now and won't hear to it. Mason is home, an’ he don't look any too gleeful, either. Wouldn't be surprised but what you boys got away with him, Leave the team go an’ come in an’ shake hands.” And after the boys had modestly obeyed, and every other subject but business had been discussed, Dick told their story from the time they left up to date, Uncle Jim's interruptions of astonishment growing more loud and frequent as he proceeded. And wheu he had finished, Uncle Jim slapped his damayed leg in his excitement, and after he could straighten out his face exclaimed enthusiastically : “T knew it! Ltold Mrs. B. you'd stay by the business through thick or thin, an’ from your story you've had it purty thick. Au’ so you've made more on the trip than Uncle Jim could, eh ?” ‘Oh, not on the profit of the sales,” Dick said hastily. outside business that raised the amount.” ‘That I ain't got nothin’ to do with,” declared Uncle Jim sturdily. ‘¢T said we'd share even on the profits, an’ that means a third even all around,” | Then there was an argument. The bovs were determined he should take the whole amount, but Uncle Jim grew so indignant at the idea that they were forced to reconsider the proposition. Uncle Jim clung to his former declaration all the way through, while the boys gradually gave way, until Chub proposed that Uncle Jim would receive everything but the five hundred dollars reward, and then they refused to take more, and the battle waxed warm. Even Mrs. Bolton was called in, but as she finally decided in favor of the boys, Uncle Jim declared her decision void. “Why, the way you talk, boys,” cried Uncle Jim, one would think yo: thought the money was some deadly poison an’ was mortally afraid to touch itt” “Tt isa poor rule that won't work both ways,” replied Dick grimly. “We consent to take the five huadred reward, and will send Jack one third, for he did just as much toward earning it as either of us, but that is every cent we w7// take !” After two hours’ arguing, Dick announced : “Majority rules. We, a self elected committee of three, which In- cludes Mrs. Bolton, have decided ayainst the defendant. He is to re- ceive all over the five hundred, and Mrs, Bolton is appointed to receive the money in trust, for I won’t trust Uncle Jim just now, Chub, turn it over.” Uncle Jim was too much exhausted by this time to argue farther, and he looked helplessly on while Chub counted out something over two hundred dollars and handed it to Mrs. Bolton, ‘Now everything is satisfactory, and we will put away the team,” said Dick. ‘Chub and I will draw three hundred and thirty three dollars and thirty three cents, and the other third will be turned over to Jack.” Uncle Jim realized by this time that he had lost the day, accepted his defeat graciously, and thanked the boys warmly. Chub and Dick were summoned to appear as withesses at the trial of Roper and the rest, which was of short duration, the evidence being too complete, and there they met Jack, who 1s now a frequent visitor at their homes. It is said that as they succeeded so well under the difficultses experi- enced while in the peddling business, they intend to invest in some en- terprise of a profitable nature. If they do ] predict sticcess, Roper, Dillon and the rest got long sentences, and after receiving Lis, Roper announced his intention that if, he ever escaped or worked ‘¢ Tt wasthe THERE ARGOSY out his term, he would make the boys feel the weight of his vengeance. But as at the present time he is still in the toils, there seems to be no danger of his doing any harm to the young peddlers. THE END. L. N., Topeka, Kan. out of print. KICK-IN-THE-F ACE, Cortland, N. Y. If in good condition your California twenty five cent gold piece may bring a small premium. Two Twenty Two. 1. You will find a list of the serials in Vols. I and II on last cover page of No. 407. 2. ‘' Ina New World" began in No. 150; and ‘** Facing the World” in No. 1285. R. R. R., Rochester, N. Y. Yes, the trade of iron molder is con- sidered to be quite a good one. Payment is made by the piece, and a man may earn fifteen to twenty dollars a week, according to his skill. L. R., St. Clair, Mich, Mr. Hoadley's story, ‘‘ The Cruise of the Bianca,” has not been published in book form. We will send you the numbers of THE ARGOSY containing it—Nos. 324-335—for one dollar. AN INQUIRER, 2 Oledo, Ohio. 1. No premium on the nickel cent of 1857. 2. To obtain these premiums on coins apply to any of the coin dealers acivertising in THE ARGOSY. 3. The United States Book Company is now the publisher of the Converse stories. Information concerning their appearance in book form must be obtained from this firm. F. J. K., Washington, D.C. 1. Single numbers of Vols. VII to X, inclusive, cost ro cents, 2. There are twenty six numbersin a volume. 3. We will send you the fourteen numbers containing ‘*‘ The Crimson Banner” on receipt of $1.10. 4. As we have several times stated, we never criticise the handwriting of our correspondents. 5. Yes, there will undoubtedly be an index to the present volume, 6. We could not undertake to advise you in this matter without knowing more about your circumstances. Wecan only say generally that many of our most eminent men supported themselves while studying in preparation for their careers. REp LIGHT WILL, Troy, N. ¥. 1. We cannot at present state when we shall have another story by Arthur Lee Putnam. 2. Since Mr. Munsey has had the management of THE DAILY CONTINENT the out- look for his obtaining time to work on a serial has become exceedingly dubious. Two or three new writers are now engaged on stories for our next volume, which will make future numbers especially attractive. 3. No; we cannot be certain of being able to supply you with single copies of THE ARGOSY previous to Vol. VII. The prices are as follows: numbers in Vols. V and VI, six cents each ; in Vols. VII, VIII, IX and X, ten cents each; in Vol, XI, five cents each. Two STRIKES, Brooklyn. 1. Yes, a member of the Young Men’s Christian Association is in a position to take advantage of many op- portunities to improve both his mind and his muscles. The cost of membership is $5 a year. 2. No, a Building and Loan Association cannot do business without a charter. 3. We never criticise the hand- writing of our correspondents. 4. The fact that an American's parents were born in Germany ts no bar to his elegibility to the presidency. 5. We have already explained that THE ARGOSY goes to press a month in advance of date. This enables readers in San Francisco to receive their paper on the same day that it is issued in New York. SOCKLESS JERRY, Manchester, N. H. 1. If you have a good, sea- worthy canoe, the Hudson River would make fine cruising ground. 2, THe DatLy CONTINENT leads all the New York papers in the matter of sporting news. 3. We cannot undertake to name the twelve most famous Americans. Everything depends on the point of view. Some people would give Boston's John LL. a place in the list, while others would have it made up exclusively of authors and artists. 4. We know of only one thing calculated to stop a boy's growth, and that is cigar- ette smoking. But to be effective, the practice must be begun at twelve or thirteen, and, as you are sixteen, we think we are safe in mention- Ing such a cesperate remedy. 5. We'cannot institate invidious com- parisons between the different makes of typewriters, The numbers about which you inquire are EGOHMGOOOKSHEO wf