Tip Top Weekly No. 52: Frank Merriwell's Dash — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

16 FRANK MERRIWELL’S DASH. The rivals were drawing near the sta-|the whole business, and it must have set- tion, and still it seemed that they were|tled matters iu their minds.”? keeping side by side. _ ‘Now they are spurting!” | Yes, they were spurting for the finish, but, to the amazement of Yates’ friends, a single bound had seemed to carry Frank - Merriwell two yards in advance of the other runner, and this advantage Merr1- well maintained. In another moment the station would be reached, and the race must end. See- ing this, Andy Emery was bitterly grind- ing out an exclamation of rage and dis- usf. Suddenly Yates seemed to trip and fall heavily. He tried to spring up, but seemed to be hurt, and he was struggling to rise when Flemming reached the spot and lifted him to his feet. ‘Are you hurt ?’’ asked several, as they gathered around Duncan. ‘Not much,’? he answered, rather thickly; ‘‘but I lost the dash by that fall.’? ‘‘Rats!’’ muttered Harry Rattleton. ‘He had lost it before he fell.” **T was ready to make the final spurt, which would have carried me ahead of Merriwell at the finish,’’ declared Yates. “Oh, it is a case of beastly luck!” growled Andy Emery. ‘‘It is the way everything turns in Merriwell’s favor. He never wins except it is by cold luck.”? “Oh, come off” chirped Danny Gris- wold. ‘‘You’re sore, that’s. all ails you!?? “Shut up, or I'll wring your neck!” ‘““You can’t catch me, you know,”’ taunted the little fellow, as he skipped out of reach. On the station platform Merriwell was - quietly waiting the arrival of the others, fanning himself with his handkerchief. It happened that Bruce Browning was at the station, and he had seen the race between the rivals. In his ponderous manner, he hurried to congratulate Frank, ‘Yates was,a fool to try i itp? declared . Bruce, his round face seeming to expand into one broad grin. ‘‘He might have known what would happen. I see Crockett and Gibbs, two of the commit- “tee, with the fellows. They witnessed ae ‘tT wish Yates had not fallen,”? said” Frank, with regret. “He did not fall accidentally, and you can bet your greasy coin on that! It was plain enough.”? : ‘Then you think—just what?’ ‘That he saw he was beaten, anc fell so that he might make a claim that outran him by accident.’ ‘*T had the lead.”’ “Ves, and he could not have recovered and overtaken you in a week! But thac makes no difference. Allee samze, [ rather fancy Yates will not fool anybody very much.’ The knot of fellows now approzriied the station, where there was a ¢-.:2t you throng of Yale lads who had seer. the - race. ° Yates was very pale, but there w:: a burning light in hiseyes. He advanced straight to Frank, and distinctly saic.: | ‘‘Mr. Merriwell, you beat me this «ine through an accident ; but I will run vou again, and ]’ll win. ” Frank bowed with the utmost tesy. ™ “oOuire . ‘“Mr. Yates,’’ he said, “von will find. me willing and ready to run with you | any time.”’ ‘Whoopee!’ squealed Danny (:ris- wold, turning a handspring. ‘*T!:at’s business straight from headquarters !’' ‘*Here comes the train!’ was the cry. Then there was a scramble for tickcts and for seats on the train. CHAPTER VIL ENEMIES AT WORK. It happened that Merriwell and his } friends entered the smoker. They found _ Bink Stubbs curled up in a corner; puffing away at a cigarette. ‘“Vou seem to be well fixed, Stubos, ’ said Frank. And the little fellow cheerfully Tee turned: ~ “Oh, Dve got a snap, as s the bear said, : when he stepped into the steel trap.’ .-) Then room was made for a jolly. litte |. party in the corner, and all the ccligoee who smoked lighted up. cigarettes, or. G setae CON KS (C(0)