Tip Top Weekly No. 139: Frank Merriwell's Father — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

14 TIP TOP WEEKLY. From his pocket the unknown took a gold mounted and diamond studded cigar case, which was well filled with fine cigars. One of the cigars he slowly drew forth, closing the case and deliberately returning it to his pocket. Next he took out a small gold cigar cutter, with which he snipped off the end of the cigar. By this time the eyes of every person in the office of the hotel were fastened on the sin- gular individual. There was that about him which attracted and held their observation. Apparently he was utterly unconscious that he was watched. He reached for the cigar lighter, but the alcohol in the little cup was exhausted, and so his effort to light his cigar with the aid of the lighter was unsuccessful. Without the least show of impatience, he dropped the lighter back into place, put his hand in his pocket and took out a roll of bills as big as his fist. His next act caused every person watching to give a gasp of amazement. From the outside of the roll he pulled a crisp hundred dollar bill. With this the stranger calmly proceeded to light his cigar. He thrust one end of it mto the flame of the little lamp, serenely watched it catch fire, and then held it to the end of his cigar, puffing away deliberately till the weed was well lighted. The half-burned bill he tossed on the floor, placed his foot on it to extinguish the flame, turned about and walked with a dignified air out of the office, never once saying a word or appearing to observe anybody in particular. There was a hush when he was gone. Then the clerk leaned over the desk and stared down. at the half-burned bill, somebody exclaimed: __ “Well, wouldn’t that kill you to death!” Jabez, of the Snakyeyes, says “I’l! Then there was an excited stir. “Fake!” exclaimed a commercial traveller, laughing. “It was well done, though. That bill really looked like the genuine stuff.” “Tt was counterfeit, of course,” puffed a fat man. Frank stooped and picked up the half- destroyed bill. Some of the witnesses of the little scene came forward and gathered round him. Merry examined the bill closely. ‘Then he added to the sensation by saying, in a tone of absolute conviction: “The bill was genuine!” “What?” Now there was excitement. “There is no doubt about it,” asserted Merry. “It is on the First National Bank of this city, and is the exact duplicate of the one I have here. If it is counterfeit, I will forfeit my reputation for common sense.” He had taken another bill from his pocket and was comparing what remained of the half-destroyed one with it. Others examined the half-destroyed bill, and it was not long before nearly all became convinced that it was genuine. Then came the question: “Who is this man who lights his cigars with hundred dollar bills?” “ve heard of him,” declared a young man. “He ‘s stopping at the Midland.” “What's his name?” | “He is registered as ‘Mr. Phenix of Ari- zona.’ He’s been doing all sorts of queer things like throwing five and ten dollar gold | pieces out of his window to see newsboys scramble for them. He throws them out by the handful. He tipped a bellboy fifty dol- lars for carrying his grip to his room when he arrived.” “When did he arrive?” “This morning. That’s why you haven't — Dew It!” , See True Blue. No. 30. ECOMICOHOO© S (CO