Tip Top Weekly No. 139: Frank Merriwell's Father — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

TIP TOP WEEKLY. At this there was a groan of dismay from the man who had hoped to obtain a share of the money when the bill was redeemed. Frank hesitated. A sudden feeling of anger came upon him. What right had any man to burn money to light his cigar with when there was so much poverty and suffer- ing in the world! It was a crime, and Frank did not hesitate about expressing ‘his convic- tions on that point. of the man. “Sir,” he said, almost icily, “when I have redeemed this bill I shall see that its value is put to good use. I shall distribute the money obtained for it among the poor of this city.” The stranger from the Southwest simply lifted his eyebrows the least bit. “You are at liberty to do as you like with it,” he said. “I am sure it is nothing to me.” He made Frank think of Monte Christo as he stood there, his hair white, his face blood- less, his eyes burning. He was Monte “Christo come to his fabulous fortune after years of imprisonment in the dungeon depths of Castle d’If. He was a man restored to life after being buried for long maddening years in the terrible darkness and silence of a living tomb. This thought shot through Merry’s brain, and then Frank retorted to the stranger’s last words: | | “Tt should-be something to you, sir.” The man seemed about to turn away, but Frank’s tone and manner checked him. “Why should it be anything to me?” he asked, still unruffled. “It should be something to any man who knows there is sickness and poverty in the world and yet heedlessly throws his money away and burns it to light his cigars,” came boldly from the young playwright and actor. Mr. Phenix thrust his left hand into his He now showed no fear lt Was too Bad Clif was Discovered. True Blue No. i trowsers pocket, took a long pull at his cigar, lowered it and looked at it contemplatively. “A poor weed,” he muttered, as if forgetful of everything else. “In all Kansas City it is impossible to get a good cigar.” Frank could scarcely repress his impa- tience. His face flushed, for it seemed that the man was taking pains to ignore him and his words. “It is a crime for any man to light a cigar with a hundred dollar bill,” he said, directly. “A hundred cents would keep some poor wretch from starvation to-day. The man who burns good money when there is so much want in the world should be arrested and imprisoned, and his money should be taken from him and given to charity.” “That is your idea,” gently said the man from Arizona. “You have a right to your views. I believe every man has a right to his views, and it is a foolish person who will quarrel with him about them.” This was not what Frank expected or de- sired. It seemed remarkable to him that the stranger should remain perfectly unmoved in the face of his plain language. “If you have so much money, sir,” he said, © warmly, “it will not be difficult for you to find a way to bestow it upon the needy who are worthy.” | “Ah, but that would cause me trouble.” “Yes.” | “And it would take time,” “Is your time so valuable?” | “Yes. The best part of my life is gone. have not many years to live now, and every moment is valuable. I propose to enjoy ‘it to the fullest extent. My time is my own, and [ shall use it for my benefit alone. I care nothing for others. My money is my own, and I shall do with it as I see fit. No man ever gave me money when I needed it, and I have needed it as sorely as ever human 30.. COIN (G HOOKS (C(O)