Tip Top Weekly No. 139: Frank Merriwell's Father — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

16 TIP TOP WEEKLY. “But I never!’ roared the man, which caused Frank to laugh all the more. “A clever bit of legerdemain,” commented aspectator. “It was really very good.” “You will see something better than that if you attend the performance of ‘John Smith of Montana’ to-night,” declared Merry, not missing the opportunity to advertise the play. “As for this half-burned bill, perhaps I had better keep it now.” _ Of course Frank had performed a deft feat of magic, and the man to whom he had pretended to give the remnant of a bill had It had remained in Frank’s possession all the time. “Tf you keep it ” began one. “T shall do as I said, restore it to Mr. Phe- nix at the first opportunity,” promised Merry. “Then here is your opportunity!” excitedly palpitated the clerk. “Here comes Mr. Phe- nix!” not received it at all. The man who burned money was just re- entering the office. | CHAPTER V. A REMARKABLE MAN. Of course everyone turned and stared at the remarkable stranger, but he seemed ut- terly untonscious of the fact that he had attracted so much attention. He sauntered into the office with the careless air of a man who has plenty of time on his hands and not a care in the world. There was something awe-inspiring about his pallid face and pierc- ing eyes. It was plain enough that he was a man who had seen trouble and sorrows, but it was also plain that he had determined to put all unpleasant memories of the past from him. Somehow to Frank Merriwell there seemed something familiar about this man. _ It seemed to Merry that they had met before, but, although he had an excellent memory, he could not recall the time or place. This being the case, Frank decided that he must be mistaken, for had he ever before seen such a singular person the recollection of such a meeting must have come easily to him now. At once Frank stepped forward from the little group in front of the desk and advanced to meet the stranger. “Sir,” he said, politely, “I believe this be- longs to you.” He held out the half-burned bank note. The mysterious man from Arizona paused and glanced carelessly at Merriwell’s offer- ing. His face remained grave and immov- able. “I do not want it,” he said. “I threw it away.” That voice! It sounded like a familiar echo to Frank; it stirred him strangely. He wondered that he should feel a thrill of agita- tion run over him. It required an effort for Merry to remain calm and undésturbed in appearance. He had faced the most deadly perils without a tremor, but now in the presence of this man a queer thrill was creeping over him and giv- ing all his body a quivery feeling. “It is not destroyed so that it cannot be redeemed,” said Merry, with forced calmness. “Never mind,” came softly from the lips of the strange man. “It is worth nothing to me.” | “It is worth a hundred dollars to anybody.” “Well, what is a hundred dollars!” came with something like mild contempt from Mr. Phenix. “Tt is considerable money.” What was that Matter Clif Would have Let Drop. if it Had not been for Bessie? fre Blue No. 30 “Money! I have money to burn—and I burn it! Don’t trouble me. You picked it. up?” | | “Yes.” &: “Keep it. Itis yours. It served my pur~ pose. I lighted my cigar: with it. a ? comiclsooks.com