Tip Top Weekly No. 139: Frank Merriwell's Father — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

24 “TIP TOP WEEKLY. “Oh, I understand. 2 “When Miss Bellwood breaks down the door, the villain meets her, and they have a. brief struggle. She breaks away from him and sets me free.” ‘On the night you speak of—what hap- pened then?’ “He tried to hold her long enough for - saw to get in its work on me.” ‘The wretch.” “Miss Bellwood is slight and not very strong, but divining his purpose, she was sud- denly endowed with superhuman strength. She shrieked for him to let go, literally drag- ging him about the stage in her frenzy to break away and save me.” “By Jove! that was thrilling!’ “Of course, the audience thought it ir the play, and the people were simply spellbound by what they regarded as a most realistic bit of acting.” “It’s not often anything like that is seen on the stage.” “No. Finally, with a mighty effort, Mies Bellwood broke away. When he tried to grasp her again, she caught up the axe and - threatened to brain him with it.” “A good picture—a great situation.” “She was in earnest. She has told me since that she came within a hair of making her threat good. If he had made another move to catch her, it is certain she would have opened his head with the axe.” “Go on!” | “He slunk off, and she lost not a moment in setting me free. The saw was touching my hair with its.teeth when I rolled off the log.” | “A close call.” “All of that. After the show, Leckwell disappeared, but he left word that I would hear from him again. He swore he would find a way to do me up.” “Look her, Mr. Merriwell, have you used this affair to boom your business?’ “Used it?’ “Ves,” “No.” “You should.” ‘greatest stuff I ever heard! “Why, it is a corking story for the papers, and every paper in town will snap it up. It is sensational. Work it, Mr. Merriwell! Have it written up, and Til guarantee you a house to-morrow night. The people will turn out to see the hero who was so nearly murdered on the stage by a jealous rival. Tihat’s the stuff! You must get jealousy into it. Can’t you make it out that Lockwell was in love with somebody who admired you—say Miss Bellwood? Why, if you are in this business to win money, as well as glory, you won’t lose any opportunity to get a barrel of free ad- vertising with the yarn.” Frank was dazed for the moment. At first he was repulsed by the thought-of turning the yarn into an advertising story. As for the iealousy part, Lockwell had attempted to pay attentions to Elsie, and had been rebuffed. All that would be perfectly true in the story. But he thought of Elsie. It would expose the fact that they were great friends. What did he care? He was proud of it. If Elsie did not care, it would be all right. He would consult her. To avert the frost, she might agree to have the story in the pa- pers. “It will be all the more effective because Lockwell has been here and tried to injure you by circulating false reports,” said the box ofice man. “You must show him up. You must show how he is trying to do you dirt. Then the people will turn out in swarms to see your play and get a look at you and the little heroine who saved you. Why, it’s the It is worth bar- rels of money to you! You can draw a house on it anywhere.” “Y don’t know but you are right,” said Frank, meditatively. ‘Right! Of course [ am! Now you go straight home and work the story up. Don’t give it to one reporter, for he’ll try to make it exclusive for his paper. Spring it on all of them, and if you do not do a land office business here for the next two iniaes I'm a. lobster!” “Mr. Henshaw,” said Frank, grasping the young man’s hand, “I believe you have done That Fish Net Was Not Used for Fishing. True Blue No. 30. . COnnic _ olks (S(O)