Tip Top Weekly No. 118: Frank Merriwell, Engine Wiper — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

_ Frank passed on and heard no more of their talk. He was not disturbed, for he knew there was certain to be rivalries and jealousies among workinen, and he be- heved he could live down the dislike for him that was being shown at the very ‘beginning of his career. Frank had taken a room in a cheap quarter. He felt that he must live ac- cording to his means, and his pay as wiper was sure to be poor. Merriwell’s former friends would not have believed it possible for him to bring himself to one small square room, with bare floors and undecorated walls. He smiled as he fancied some of them look- ing in on him in his new quarters. But no one realized better. than Frank Merriwell that the young man who lives beyond his means forms habits that lead to certain ruin in the end, and he was ‘determined to start right. There is much in the right kind ofa startin life. It is slow, heart-bieaking work climbing tle ladder of fortune, but the patient plodder wins in the end,for he makes sure of each step as he goes. _ Frank had arranged to take his meals -atacheap restaurant, but he went home ‘and washed up thoroughly before going out. He had bought some curled hair, which he knew would, with the aid of good soap, be very effective in removing the grime from his hands, and, after he had washed, scarcely a trace of his work “could be discovered by the closest in- ‘spection. He knew that in time the dirt must wear in beveath his finger nails so it could not be removed, and so he had cut his beautifully shaped nails as short as possible, preferring to sacrifice them tather than carry them about ‘‘in mourn- ing.’? ‘He had been fortunate in finding a place to eat, for, although the restaurant ‘was cheap, everything looked clean, and PATRIOTIC EMBLEMS GIVEN AWAY—SEE PAGE 32, TIP TOP WEERLY, | he was able to eat the food with rel- ish. not cast down or dejected. Instead, a feel- ing of self-reliance and independence pos- sessed him, and his heart swelled with something like exultation. , He had been cast upon his own re- sources, and he must make his way alone in the world and unaided. any real ability in. him, he aormly be- Somehow as he sat there eating he was li-there was | lieved he would succeed; and he welcomed. the test. ing the future possessed him. — Having eaten heartrly, he went out for a stroll about the city. He felt the need of a walk in the open air, after which he would goto his room and get a good night’ s rest. Not a fear or a doubt concern- Gradually he walked toward a. better : section of the city. At. least’ he was at- singing, and, in front of: some shops he saw a boy aud girl standing, while a ‘small crowd had gathered near. The boy was playing on a guitar, while tracted by the sound of music and of. the girl was singing. ‘They were rather — poorly clad, although their clothes were neat and clean. The boy might have been seventeen years old, and he had une’ short, crooked leg, making necessary the - use of a crutch. The girl was not over fifteen, and-she had one of the sweetest faces Frank had ever looked upon. There ‘was something pathetic about her face— something that struck to. meery heart 2 with a pang. The boy joined in with her on the. chorus of the song, and. there was some- thing about it that brought a mist to Frank’s eyes. He stopped and listened, testing in his pocket for a. "piece of | money. When the song was Gnished, ‘the. boy: . passed round the hat. Few of the listen- — eis gave anything, but. each one was. 6) : ‘G COIN SS (SO)