Frank Merriwell's Catch — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

“4 . 7 TIP TOP WEEKLY. “Oh, I don’t know about that,’’ said Frank. ‘‘He did not take any part in Bunker’s attempted attack on us after I ‘got him out of the water. That shows——’? _ “Nothing,’? cut in Bart. “‘He was pretty, well used up, and he did not have _ the nerve to take any part in that little affair. I think that fellow is thoroughly bad.” ‘SDon’t be too hard on him, old man,’ said Frank. ‘‘Well, see if Iam not right. You're always trying to discover good qualities in everybody. You do not seem to believe any person can be thoroughly bad.”’ ‘That is right,’? nodded Frank; ‘‘I do ' mot believe anybody can be entirely bad. I’ am firmly convinced that even the worst ruffian has some redeeming quali- ties.’? | “Yhat’s all right, but it makes me tired when you put so much confidence in - rascals who are doing everything possible . to injure you. Sometime you will get - done up for keeps by some ruffian you are . trying to befriend.” | **Perhaps so. I'll chanee it.” Breakfast over, Browning threw him- self down on one of the beds and lighted a cigarette. | ‘There,’ he said, with a sigh of satis- faction, ‘now I could go to sleep again, and I wouldn’t need any rocking.” “Gif me a shiggerette, Pruce,’’ said Hans. ‘*‘Id makes you vant to smoke ven _T haf von.” “Confound your cigarettes!’ cried Diamond. ‘‘I wish you wouldn’t smoke them! When a fellow had sucha hard time to leave off as I did it’s a big temp- tation to see others smoking and to smell them,’ — | “You're not obliged to see me,’ -gtunted Bruce. ‘You can go outside. There’s nobody round to bother you out ” There was a sound of feet on the — and two men entered the cottage. They were large, determined looking fellows, plainly dressed. They stopped just inside the door and looked the party over, with- out speaking a word.. “How do you do, gentlemen,’’ said Merriwell. ‘‘This visit is something of a surprise. You're a little late for break- fast.’? The larger of the two men nodded shortly, then he turned to the other and said something in alow tone. ‘Their ac- tions aroused Bart’s suspicions, and lie took a step toward the corner where two shot-guns stood. ‘Is this the whole of your party?” asked the large man. ‘'It is,’? answered Frank. we do for you ?”’ The man did not auswer at once, but he was heard to say to the otker: ‘*He ain’t here.’? ‘What can ‘Perhaps they’re lyin’,”’ muttered the other. ‘Took here,?? came grimly from the big man; ‘‘we’re looking for a certain person, and we have been told he was camping out over this way with a lot of boys. ?) Frank flushed a bit and stepped forward promptly. “There is no person camping here be- sides the ones you see,’’ came rather sharply from his lips. More words passed between the two men, and then the larger one said aloud: “Ir you?re lyin’, you'll get yourselves inter trouble. I am Ben Bowers, the sheriff from Newport. This is John Nason, oue of. my deputies. We are here looking after a certain chap who has been passing in this section under the name of Joe T'weed.”? “A SUTRAS WEEKLY FIT FOR THE HOME—THE HALF-HOLIDAY. ECOMMICIOO© SS (S(O)