Frank Merriwell's Fame — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

12 TIP TOP WEEKLY. gun to lose his hair, so there was a bald spot on the top of his head. Some one sug- gested that it would be fine to have a dance after supper, but the floor of the dining room did not seem just suited to the purpose. “Never mind that,” said Holt. use the top of my head. “You can I’m sure that’s smooth enongh.” “By the way, Holt,” murmured Leslie Lawrence, academy says the growth of hair can ,;be stimulated by music.” “T hardly think that is a new discovery,” broke in Merriwell, soberly. “I have heard many a hair-raising song.” This provoked a shout of laughter all round the table. “That’s all right, Merriwell!”’ declared Fo- “They don’t But why is it that women lansbee, with unusual hilarity. get ahead of you. are so seldomr bald headed?” “Oh, women are better than men,” de- clared Lillian Bird, ‘and so such affliction is not visited upon them.” “T hardly see the connection,” laughed Fo- lansbee; “and I don’t know about women be- ing better than me. anything about seven devils being cast out of a man.” “No, of course not!” returned the actress, quick as a flash; “he has every one of them 33 now. ; “Oh, say!” gasped the “angel,” when the merriment over this quick answer had sub- sided. “That drives me to drink.” He emptied his glass in a hurry, and many of the others imitated his example. “This is the first time I’ve surrounded gen- uine fiz for six months,” confessed Douglas Dunton. “I opened a bottle—a small bottle —when I got my engagement with Haley’s old ‘All-Star Combination,’ and I haven’t “T see a member of the French: The Bible doesn’t say’ had the price since. I couldn’t get anything on trust, either.” “Speaking about trusts,” said Frank, gen- tly, “I see the Virginia producers ate try- ing to form a peanut trust.” And then, after a moment of silence, he added, “I believe the public will protest vigorously against such a ‘shell.game.’ ” ‘Ha! ha! ha!” shouted Folansbee. “What, again? Oh, come, Merriwell, do take a lit- tle drink of champagne!. You would be too funny for anything if you had a pint in»you.” “Thank you, sir,” declined Frank. “You couldn’t induce me to do it, Please don’t urge me.” “Oh, don’t be odd to-night, Mr. Merri- well,” broke in Lockwell, who was at Frank’s elbow, and whose face showed that he was already well under the influence of stimu- lants. “Let me fill your glass.” He attempted to do so, but Frank checked him. “Mr. Lockwell, I do not wish to appear cranky, but I have never taken a drink of liquor, and rs “It is time you did, old man,” insinuated Lockwell, with insolent persistence. “We’re just a jolly party here together, and you must not be the odd one.” Elsie Bellwood’s eyes were on Frank, but she had no reason to fear that he would touch the wine. He firmly. declined, show- ing no offense at Lockwell’s insulting rug-= — ings and laughter. “Well,” said Percy, “I never drink wine If I have the You know they say —when it’s out of my reach. price—well, L, blow it. banknotes are bad things, as they are liable to convey disease, and——” “That explains why I haven’t been ill since I was a kid,” chipped in Harold Dangerford, who had been keeping still up to that time. “Fill up your glasses,’ cried Folansbee, A Man is Not Always Asleep When Eyes Are Closed. Clif Pretended to Be. , True Blue No. 30. 4 GOmichoo “al