Tip Top Weekly No. 80: Frank Merriwell as 'Anchor' — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

TIP TOP WEEKLY. thera. During the whole of that day and the greater part of the night on they toiled. But then came the climax to their trials. Joseph, utterly forespent, de- elared himself unable to stir another step, and—suiting deed to word—flung himself down on the bank of the river, where he lay like a log, deaf to al! his ecom- anicn’s exhortations and eutreaties, aud spurning all is offers, asking only to be left to die in peace. Seeing there was nothing for it but to leave him to his fate, Isaac slowly and sadly resumed his march, What else could he do? And what better, to judge hy the upshot? For ere he had covered half a mile he spied a brand-new log-hut. Wherea home, there a habitant! But without waiting to see the living proof of the soundness of ‘his reasoning, he hastened back to _his dying friend, cheered him with the weleome news, chafed his stiff Jimbs, and at length succeeded in sete ting him on his feet again. He then half Jed, half carried him to the hut, which proved to Le one of the outbuildings of a place called Saco Fort. Here poor Joseph quite caved in; bus then he was Inekily in good bands, which safely brought him through the long and dangerous illness that forthwith selzed him. As for his nore wiry and tougher com- panion, to whem he owed his life—Isaaec Bradley, after a short stay atthe Fort to recruit his wasted Jstrength, pushed on to Haverhill, aud was welcomed as oue riseu from the dead by the old folks at ‘‘home, sweet home.’? et ene ime ff} ese caves eared “Buttons.” He sat on the steps of the yreat uffice building bend- ing over a dog whose Jeg bad been run over. i416 wore ng coat, nor hat, and his susyeuders were kept on by bits of wood run through theru and through holes in his trousers. ‘‘ Buttens,’’ called a voice inside, ‘you've neglectedi your work.”? ‘*Be there in a minute, sir,’’ called Buttors. “Ina minute! Pin in the habit of befug obeyed in- stanter.’’ As he spoke the busy doctor stood in the doorway. ‘What's up??? he asked, when he saw the Og. eHe got hurt, sir; [’n trying to mend him.” ‘¢What do you know about broken limbs??? asked the doctor. >‘ Bring that dog to ny office.”’ Buttons wondered what kind of a scolding he was oing to get. He cleaned the offices in the building, yut no matter how hard he tried to pleuse there always seemed to be a scolijing ready for him. It was ‘*But- tous’’ this, or ‘‘Buttons’’ that, when things went wrong. When they went right he was forgotten. No one even knew his name. Somme one had ounce called him Buttons because he was never seen with a button on his clothes, and the name had clung to him. The doctor examined the dog’s leg carefully and then said: 4¢Why, Buttons, I could not do better myself. How did you learn to do that?” “Ts watched you, sir, with patients.’’ “You ought to be a surgeon, Buttons. - your mether keep your clothes in order?’’ ‘oF gin’t got no mother, sir,’*’ said Buttons. ‘No mother,’’ said the doctor, slowly, ‘‘nei I, Butteus. Where do you live?’? '. **Most any where,’’ said Buttons. The doctor then questionee him and found that he was spending his money to buy foo?) for some children whose father was out of work. ‘* Yar see,’’ said Buttons, ‘‘I ain’t got no brothers nor sisters, so I jest adopts them.”? “But you don’t look as though you had ever had a square meal in your life, Buttous. Suppose we bave a, big one together to-day?’ uitons looked at the doctor so surprised ha could not speak. Then the doctor said: ‘*How should you lika to adopt me, Buttons. I am about as much aloue in the world as you are.”’ Buttons looked down at his ragged clothes. ‘‘ Adopt you, sir??? he said. | “Yes. Thank God we are not judged above by the clothes we cesar. I should be very proud to be the older brother of a boy with the heart that bests be- ‘neath those clothes of yours."7 oe ‘tYon feels for them as ain’t got what you has,’ said Buttons. ‘‘I likes that,’?? aud, looking up and holding out his band, ‘‘I adopts you.’’ Why don’t ther have 31 A pplause, {Letters from Tip Top WEEKLY renders are always acceptable, Views acd suggestions will he welcomed.) Chicago, Ill., Aug. 10, 1897. Gentlemen: The membeirsof the **Killey Klub, Jr.'s’? of Lake Bluff, Ill., all wish to say that they think the Tip Top Weekly the best bays’ paper in the country and hope it will have a long run. Signed: William Johnston, Sidney Dillon, Fred Sosman, Williaus Henderson, Riebard Duuue, zi. Vv. Moyer, Chas. Pearce, . Virginia City, Nev., July 24, L807, Gentlemen: Weare readers of the Tip Top Weekly, and thiuk it one of the finest books published for the price, We have got them from No. 1 te 18, and hope they Will continue for a long time. Clarence Brown, Ralpii Golding. Coatesville, Pa., Aug. 15, 1897. Dear Sirs: I have read all of your Merriwell storics up tu date, and am very niuch pleased with thems, and I hope lie will continue to live furever, Tho baseball is what interests me mostly. 1 have rend a large number of papers, but find ‘‘they are not in it’? with the Tip Top Weekly. Raker Stewart. Danville, Va., Aug. 20, 1897. Gentlemen: Having read your Tip Top Library since its appearance, April 15, 1806, we want to let you know what we think of it. It has the spirit to make it inter- esting and each number teaches a lessun that every American boy wotld do well to practice. There area goad many readers of the Tip Top, and also of tie Red, White and Blue in Danviile,* aud as far as I cau learn, ail the readers think it is the linest paper pul- lished. Vee want to express our thanks. to you -for bringing Bart Hodge *back into your Tip Top Library. We wish it a long life aud good success, . J. Stanley Parker, S. J. Owens. Hartford, Conn., Aug. 24, 1807. Dear Sirs: We have read a number of your Tip Top Weeklies, and think they are excellent. We all agree they surpass any other five-cent library yet published. Hoping you will always keep to front, we remain, your constant readers, Charles Parkhurst. Raymond Barrows, Harry Newshavuer, Felix Frick, Oliver Waterhouse. Philadelphia, Aug. 23, 1°97. Gentlemen: We are steady readers of the ‘Tip Top stories, aud we think that there is no other library its equal in America. We live about one-half a mile from the University of Pennsylvania, and our ouly regret is that Frank did not go there instead of Yale. Hopiug taht the stories will continue, we remain, your co1- stant readers, William P, Snow, Alau H. Lungren. Terrel], Tex., Aug. 21, 1807. Near Sirs: Let me thank you for patlishing the Tip Top Weekly. Uthink, and so do fifty or sixty other boys and girls of our town, the weekly is the best story paper ever published. Frank. Merriwell is a boy ‘after me own beart.*’? I think be is a wodel bero; brave, and generous to a fault. Just the boy for all true-hearted American boys to follow. It is an Jnetruc- tive as well as eSreANOe Eubyennou, being so true a story of the real Yaukee boy. I commend the Tip Top to the public, and hope its publication will never be discontinued, Constant Reader. San Diego, Cal., Aug, 23, 1897. Dear Sira: We have read your Merriwell storiea, and find them so interesting that weran hardty wait for them. Frank Kelley, Edward itussell. ~CORnIC NOOLKS co >