Tle oe aE Now 1 cal - Price, Five. Cents,TIP TOD WEEKLY AN IDEAL | =a FOR THE ANTRICAN YOUTH ‘meh RAD 8 TS AY et seer gee No. 184. NEW YORK, October 21, 1899. __ Price Five Cents, Contents of This Number. Page RANK, MERIYELS, YR ot, Roataag Yale Spi tc irae Frank -Merriwell’ s Vim “or, REAWAKENING THE YALE SPIRIT By BURT L. STANDISH CHAPTER iL “MANV MEN HAVE MANY MINDS.”” The Dartmouth football game was the talk of the campns, and its effect was felt in the class-room. The work of the new men on the eleven was thoroughly dis- cussed. It was generally claimed that Buck Badger had not come up to antici- pations, although he had made one of the three touch-dowus scored by Yale. Of course, Badger had his defenders, and it was not a little surprising to stu- dents in general when Frank Merriwell expressed the opinion that the man from Kansas would make one of the best men on the team. : No person had ever heard Badger say a, good word for Frank, and it was known that the Westerner thoroughly hated Mer- riwell. More than that, one of the players Jet out the fact that by disobeying Merri- well’s signal, after Frauk had been made captain by the injury and retirement of Fred Birch, Badger had lost the ball to Dartmouth, giving the New Hampchire men their score. Of course this had made it appear to outsiders and spectators that Merriwell’s generalship was at fault, and Frank’s2 ‘TIP TOP WEEKLY. critics were continually claiming that he was responsible for Dartmouth’s success in scoring. ‘They declined to take into consideration the fact that he had taken the position of captain alter Dartmouth had forced the ball to within a few. yards of Vale's line, or that the blue had made two touch-downs and goals while he was in charge, against one touch-down and goal made while Birel commanded. ‘The man who let out the truth about Badger’s failure to obey the signal kept under cover, for the whole eleven had been warned against talking. In the past, by too much talking, many weak points had been betrayed to tival teams, and this year an attempt was to be made to pre- vent this leakage of secrets, This being the case, although there were some who claimed that they had it straight from a player that Badger had disoheyed and tried to make atanch-down himself, instead of passing the ball, no man on the eleven could be found to con firm the story, and Badger’s friends loud- ly declared it was. a malicious lie and an evil-minded attempt to injure the man from the West. They even went far enough to hint that Merriwell himself must be responsible for it, although it was not probable he had put it itito direct circulation. Rupert Chickering. while professing to admire the work accomplished by Frank, had a nasty way of speaking of ‘the nat- ural weakness which might assail anv iran placed suddenly in a responsible position, as Merriwell was,” and in this hypocritical manuer he succeeded in car rying the impression that Frank had shown spile against Badger. Rut no man amang Frank's foes was brave enough to come out in the face of public opinion and assert that his work against Dartmouth’s full-back giant, Dun- ton Dunkirk, had not been of the highest order, Merriwell’s first tackle, head on, in the face of the giant coming at highest speed, had looked like a heroic sacrifice, for it had not seemed possible that Frank could pull the two-hundred-pounder down upon himself and escape without being seriously injured. But Merriwell had taken all chances, and had stopped the rush of the great full~ back from the granite hills, at the same time preventing Dartmouth from scoring a tonch-down at the outset of the game, which would have given Yale a serious shock and set-back. ‘That some of the men on the eleven had feared the strapping giant there was not a doubt, Dunkirk had a, rugged and terrible face, handsome in its almost sav- age ihideousness, and it was a brave man indeed who would stand alone in his path when he was under full headway. For albof this, time after time Prank Merriwell checked the gaint by blocking and tackling, taking all kinds of risks. He had been hurt in the first tackle, and yet, after treatment, had returned to play with vigor, ond thereafter had shown not the least hesitation in going against the big man from the North. All Merriwell’s detractors could not change the evidence of sight, and hun- dreds of witnesses had seen the splendid manner in which Prank held Dunkirk au check. An attempt had been made to keep quiet the fact that Merriwell and Badger had fought after the game; but such a thing was impossible, and it became known that the Westerner was soundly’ thrashed, although he had fought like a whirlwind in the early ronnds, and had held out for fifteen ronnds before Merri- well was able to demonstrate himself the, victor. It was said that Badger had fought to the last gasp, and had strugeled hard to rise while he was being counted ont by the referee, When it was all over and he realized that he was done for, he had burst into tears and registered a vow‘TIP TOP WEEELY. a to fight Merriwell again and again till he was the conqueror, if it took fifty years. Up in Rattleton’s room a few congenial spirits were gathered together, and they were talking of the game and the fight. “I knew Badger would be fruit for Merriwell,” said Ben Halliday. “Well, he wasu’t fruit, begging your pardon, sir," said Jack Diamond, quick- ly. “Any one who thinks Badger is an easy thing should try him a whirl.” “But Merriwell did him up.? “Of course he did!"’ exclaimed Rattle- ton. “Badger was a surprise to me, but I knew Merry conld take the wind ont of his sails, and I'll bet he'll do it as many times as Mr. Badger wants to try the game.” “How much will’ you bet? asked Bandy Robinson. ‘Money talks."? “That's so,” admitted Dismal Jones; “but it’s always saying ‘good-by’ to me.” ‘The manner in which Jones said this caused a laugh. _ Phil Porter spoke up: “J believe this man Badger has good stuff in him and is made of clean grit.” Hodge came in just in time to hear this assertion, and he promptly said: “He has a weak spot.”” «How do you make that out??? “He showed it.” “ “Wien? “When he recovered after Merriwell had knocked him out.”” “How did he show it?” “By crying. It was all right for him to say he’d thrash Mersiwell in time, but he spoiled the whole business hy blubber- ing.” “Oh, that’s uatural to some people. He was so angry that he couldn't help blib- bering.”? ‘That's all right. ‘The man who blub- bets will give up in time, although he may stick to it fora long while. He is intensely dangerous fora while, he may do murder, but repeated defeats will break him down, mark what I'sav. If Badger had sat upand laughed when he was knocked over, and had sworn he would have thrashed Merriwell sometime, I con- fess I should have had some fears for Merriwell.” “T never took you fora philosopher be- fore!” exclaimed Porter, laughing. ‘Phere was au animated argument over the paint Hadge had made, and varions opinions were expressed. Some claimed that a man who eried when angry was the most dangerous, while others insisted that those whe laughed were the ones to avoid, Yet a third class argued that.a stony calm indicated the man of the most intense passions, Hodge asserted that the man who laughed was the one who would never give up, and he cited Frank Mertiwell for example, “Thave seen him laugh in the very teeth of death!” exclaimed Hodge, seri- ously. “Well, it’s no use to argue with you,” said Halliday. You seem to be a man of positive convictions.” “I know some men of positive couvie- tions,” put in ‘Tad Horner, from his cor. ner; ‘but they're all in State prison.” “That will do for you,” said Rattleton, “Your remarks are very empty-headed.”” “Well,” said Tad, “people with empty heads generally have tongnes that rat. tle.” “Phat applies,” nodded Porter. “Now you keep still, or you'll get fits.”? ‘Tad jumped up. “Who'll give 'em to me?” he demand- ed, with a flourish. (“The only tine that even my tailor gives me fits is when I fail to pay my bills.” ‘Veazie rose and minced over to Ollie, beside whom he took a seat on the coach, saying: “Give me another cigawette, dear old chumme. ‘Thothe new cigawattcs of yourth are thimply lovely.” He put his arm about Ollie’s shoulders in a coaxing manner. “You're a regular hanged jittle runt of a beggar!” exclaimed Lord, who was at least three inches shorter than Veazie. He took out a handsome cigarette case and permitted Veazie to select from it Then Lew begged a match, obtaining a wax one from Ollie, and proceeded to light up, after which he sunk back amid the cushions beside his friend. Badger gave them a strange look, as if he held them in contempt, for all that he associated with them. Skelding continued to walk the foor and express his anger, while Chickering pretended to be trying to soothe him, but irritated him all the more by his words and manner. “Now Pd like to know what Dm go- ing to do," observed Tilton Hull, having to tip his head still further back, in order to move his under jaw when he spoke, “I don't propose to submit to anything of this sort, and the flap is still attached to my shirt bosom. If go ont, I'll be as- saulted.”” “Better cut it off yourself before you go out, dear boy,” suggested Ives. “And then walk around with my vest unbuttoned, in order that they may know it’s gone!” spoke Hull, derisively, “Well, I don't propose to make a holy show of myself like that!” “Can’t we form some kind of a com- bination for protection??? asked Lord, “With Badg to head us, we ought to be able to resist such assaults.”” ‘The idea of Ollie resisting anything was rather amusing, but just then the Gathered braves were in no condition to see the ludicrous side of things. “1 wish we might form a combination against this Merriwell and his crowd,” said Ives. “Oh, you showld bear with them,” murmured Chickering. “No, thir!’ exclaimed Veazie. “We have thome wights, and I pwopothe that we defend them!” He said this as fiercely as he could, but it was very tame, indeed. “Merriwell’s power cau’t last forever here,” spoke Hull. “Tt isn’t necessary,” said Ives. “He's a junior now, and next year is his last.” “That's all right. ‘You 'know his par- ticular friends?” “Why, such fellows as Rrowning, Dia mond, Hodge, Rattleton, Jones, Halliday and others too numerous to mention.’” “That's all right, old man, but he’s missed a year at college, and some of his‘TIP TOP WEEKLY. ° old friends are gone now. ‘They've grad- uated, Rohinson, Cabb, Vortigan, Pier som, Creigliton and a ost of others who always stood by him. Besides that, a host of his old friends have gone on and left him a class behind. Rattleton, Browning, Parker, Horuer, Griswold, and so forth. ‘They will graduate a year before hé docs, and the main strength of his support will be broken, forthe new freshman class know nothing in particular about him, save what they have heard." “Goodneth knowth they have heard enough!” came from Veazie. ‘‘If he wath gone faw a year, evwybody theemed to be talking about Fwank Merriwell. It wath tirethome!"” e “Well, we must see to it that he does not add to his glory in the next year.” “How you going to do it?” asked Skelding. “There must be a way!” exploded Lord, with the ferceness of a buzzing mosquito. ‘We ought to be able to find itt” “What doeth Radg think ahont it??? asked Veazie. “ think you'll find Frank Merriwell a right hard man to hold down,” answered the man from Kansas. ‘‘He’s started in by adding glory to his past record by his playing in the Dartmouth game, and he's Hable to keep it up, unless he’s dis- abled.*? ‘Then fe should be disabled!” grated Skelding. ‘Well, you fellows should have an idea how easy itis to disable him,” said Buck, with a grim smile. “But yowve not given it up yet?” asked Hull, anxiously. Badger looked at his watch. ‘Pm still paying Buster Kelley two dollars each far lessons in boxing, and he knows more than a barrel of tricks, fair and unfair. If I can’t whip Merriwell fair, then I reckon I’ll have to doit the other way.” We'll have our chance at hin next year,” said Ives; “for then his chief friends will be gone.”” “Good gwathuth!? murmured Veazie. “That fellow Hodge won't be gone, dealt boyth, and he's a wegular weteh |” “We ought to be able to make life a burden for him, as he’s in ons class,” said Hull, getting his fingers over the edge of his collar and pulling it down to keep it from sawing his chin off when he talked. “Dm awfaid of him,” confessed Lew. “He lookth jutht ath if he’d uot hethi- tate to eat a man'th head off:”” “Well, if you are bound to get to- gether and plot to keep a fellow student from obtaining too much glory and_pow- er,” said Chickering, with an air of deep regret and submission, “I suppose you may as well meet here. Of course, I do not countenance anything of the sort, but you are my friends, and I shall not betray you.’? Badger laughed shortly. “That's right kind,” he said. “It’s time for me to go see my friend Kelley. Who's goming along and watch him pnt me through my paces?” «Won't you stop long enough to have some tea?” asked Rupert. I seem to need it to steady my nerves.”” “Tea!” blurted the Kansas man. ‘“Ex- cuse me! Why don’t you have some whiskey?” “He hath some weal nithe wine,” said Veazie, quickly. ‘‘Wouldn’t.you like a little wine, Badg?”? “Yes, I have plenty of wine,” said Chickering. ‘‘What’ll you have?” “Bixeuse me,” said Badger. “Wine will do for those that like it. It’s too soft for me. Come on.’? He rose to his feet, but Chickering urged him to wait till the others “took something,’ and he waited rather impa- tiently, for he was becoming nauseated by the odor of perfumery and cigarettes.» TI TOP WEEKLY. Rupert brought ont his wine and cracked i All accepted a ghiss, even Radger taking some, althangh he harely touched his lips to it when they drank. “Isw'th thith perfectly lovely? purred Veazie, stauding up, still with his arm affectionately passed over Lord’s shoul- ders. “Ido love wine tho mueli!” “Here's Inck to Buek Badger, of Kan- sas,” cried Skelding, with his glass up- lifted, “and dismay to Prank Merriwell, of the-devil-knows-where! Drink it down)? "They drank. CHAPTER Iv. DANGEROUS KNOWLEDGE, Tilton Hull was left behind, as he feared au assault from the gatherers of “fruit?” in case he appeared on the cam- pus. ‘The others accompanied Badger, and they left the college gronnds for the streets of the town, talking as they walked along. ri Skelding was in an ugly mood. He had taken a heavy éane, declaring he'd crack somebody’s head if ‘they ‘touched him again, Although he was not a per- son to openly attack an enemy, he was dangerougy for he would wait for an op- portunity to take his foe by surprise and knock him out. Badger walked with Skelding in ad- vance, while Chickering talked to Ives at their heels. Behind them came Lord and Veazic, arm in arm, As they moved along, Skelding grew more and more abusive of Frank Merriwell, He seemed to feel that Merry was responsible for all that had happened to him on the campus. Chickering had given out the impression that Frank was the origiuator of the “fruit gathering"? business. “Till find a way to get back at him!” breathed the angry fellow. “If you fail to do him up, Badger, P’1—-—” “Dm not going to fail next time,” de- clared the Kansan. “1 reckon I’ve learned any lesson.” ‘And you will fight him? You won't forget?” “Badgers never forget! Besides that, Pve got to fight him, for he's blowing round how he whipped ane. Chickering says he was langhing ahont it at the fence, Do you think I'm the sort of fel- low to have a man going round laughing about me?” “T should think not!"* “Were hath on the eleven——’ ‘That's just the thing I wanted to speak about. You onght ta he ahle to find a chance to knock him out in prae- tice or in a regular game. Kelley has shown you a few tricks, you say?” “Yes, he’s shown me how to break a man’s wrist or his neck. I don't want to break ‘Mesriwell’s neck.” A farmer was driving along the street in an old cart. His dog, a huge hound, trotted along the edge of the sidewalk. “Pd break his neck,” said Skelding, “GE Thad the chance, just as quick as I'd break the neck of that dog!” He lifted his heavy cane and struck at the back af the dog’s neck with all his strength, The creature uttered a how! and rolled over into the gutter. ‘The farmer shouted with anger and astonishment, stopping his horse and springing down. Laughing harshly, Gene walked along with Badger. ‘The farmer ran after them. “Tere, you!" he cried, trying to stop Skelding. ‘You hit my dorg, you sneak- * skunk! I guess you've killed my Tige! “Keep vour old dog out of any way!” advised Gene, savagely; ‘and get out of the way yourself, you old hayseed, or I'll treat you same as I did the dog!" ‘The farmer tried to catch held of Skelding’s coat, but Gene struck his handTP TOP asharp blow with the cane, causing ‘the man to dance and shout with pain. “By gosh! I'd have ye "rested if there was @ perliceman round!” he ried. “And I'd swear I hit your old dog in self-defense. I have witnesses to prove it, too.” ‘The farmer saw that Skelding could get the hest of the matter in case he was arrested, and so, muttering forth his wrath, he turned back to look after his dog. At the next corner Skelding looked round and laughed when he saw the far- mer carrying the huge dog in his arms from the gutter to his wagon. ‘No Badger, who might have done a similar thing under provocation, Skeld- ing’s act was not one for approval. ‘The dog had been inoffensive and had not harmed Gene in any way. “That will teach the old fool to keep his dog at home,” said Skelding. Badger said nothing. “Gwathuth! lisped Veazie. ‘You mutht be in an awful wage, old man!” “T wish the dog had been that fellow Merriwell ?” declared Gene, “Te doesn’t seem to me that you have so much’ cause to hate him,’ observed Badger. . “T hate him because everyhody is mak- ing such a fuss over him, for one thing. Por another, Chick says he started this fruiting business. I was handled like a common fellow, whose father and mother cut no ice in the world.”” “Yon know that is the way at Yale, Tye found out it doesn’t pay none what- ever to count on ancestry here, so I never tell anybody that my father is one of the richest cattle raisers in Kansas.” ‘This was Badger’s way of ‘never. tell- ing anybody.” “Well, PH not get over it ina week. Tm sore about it. You must whip this fellow, Badger. You must take the starch out of him. If somebody can do it, his WEEKLY. n stock will take a slump. He’s got au idea into his nut that nobody can do him up.” “Don’t worry; Pil do him the next time, I reckon. I’m not paying Kelley my good‘money for nothing.’” ‘They arrived at Jackson's and slipped in by the side door, ascending the stairs to Kelley's room. ‘The bruiser was there. He had the build of the genuiue prize- fighter, uatrow hips, broad shoulders, muscular arms, thick neck, square, pro- truding jaw, and a head narrow at the top. When clenched, his huge hands, with bulging knuckles, looked like hams, aud it seemed that he might knuck down an ox, ‘“Waryer, gents," he saluted. “Make yerselves ter home, I alwus enjoys der serciety of young gents like y S’pose ye’ve come ter see me put Mr. Badger trough? He's a comer, is dat boy. I'll have him fit fer der middle- weight class before I gits t'rough wid him.” , “AIT want of you is to fix me soT can whip Frank Merriwell,” said Badger, as he began to strip off. “You have done well with me, but you know he whipped me in a square fight. I'll give you a hun- dred dollars the day I thrash him.” Kelley whistled. “Js dat straight?” he asked. “Sure thing.” “Wy didn’t yer say so.before?”” “Why, haven't you been doing your best with me?” “Yes, but- “But what?” “You've taken a big contrac’, see!” “I know that! You don’t have to tell me! But you've said you would develop me into a fighter that would be able to down anything in the college.” “Dat may take a long time,” said the pugilist, craftily, thinking of the hundred dollars promised him ina Inmp on cer- tain condijions. “I know dat cove Mer- riwell, an’ he’s swift. It might be a year use.” IP TOP WEEELY, before yer’d be able ter do him on der level. But dere is a way.” Kelley stopped, winking knowingly at the man from Kansas. 7 “A year!” cried Badger, in’ dismay. “1 can’t wait as long as that!"? “Can't yer?? “No! It would be too late, then! “T heard yer tell him ye'd do it if it took fifty years!” “I do not wish to wait fifty years—or one year! I can’t wait! “If it is possible _ for you to fix me so I can do him up, PI pay you the hundred dollars right away.”” “Do yer want ter do it fair or foul?” Badger hesitated. (Pd rather do it fair,” he said, after a Tittle. “Well, if dat's der way yer wants ter do it, it’s goin’ ter take a long time ter git yer inter condition, See! But if yer wants ter do it der odder way—— Well, I knows a few tricks.”” Kelley winked with the whole side of his face. Gene Skelding got hold of the Kansan at once. “What's the difference,” he exclaimed, “whether you do it fair or foul, as long as you do it! You've got to doit, and you want to do it in a hurry.”” ‘That's wight,” uodded Lew Veazie, importantly. ‘If I were in your plathe, Td find out hew to thmash him in a hurwy, Badg.’? “So would I,” said Ollie Lord, streteli- ing up in order to appear as tall as _possi- bie. Ives felt it necessary to agree with the others, as he always did, but he waited for Chickering to speak. “Tam extremely sorry that you will not give up this idea of fighting again with that fellow, Badger,” aid Rupert, “Of course, I would not harm Frank Merriwell myself, for I pity him in a way; but, if you must fight, why do you fool long about it? Why don’t you find a way to settle it as soon as possible. I de- test fighting, and I hope to see this’ trou- ble settled soon.” “Yes, Badger, get into it and put Mer- tiwell out in a hurry,’ nodded Ives, as if he considered his advice all that was necessary to cause the Kansas man to anake up his mind definitely. “If you can put him out in a hurry, we'll all se. joice over it, don’t you know." Still Badger hesitated. With his blood aroused, he would not have hesitated at any means to conquer a foe, fair or foul; Dut, in cold blood, as he was now, lie felt ashamed to acknowledge that he had ever contemplated getting the best of Frank Merriwell by crooked means. In fact, it had been Badger’s dream. to whip Frank in a square match, without any trickery, and it is not strange that it went against the grain now to think that he must do it in any other way. Ekelding continued to urge. “What's the use tg mionkey with this fellow Merriwell}”’ he exclaimed. ‘Find out how long it will take to get onto these tricks, and then learn them, for you want to whip him within a week, if possible. “Tain’t tole yer dat I could fix him so’sheconld da dat trick in a week,’ said Kelley, immediately. “How long will it take?” asked Bad- ger. “Mebbe a week; mebbe two weeks. You gotter git so you can do de trick, no matter which way he comes at yer.” “What is the trick?” “If T tole yer, ye’d know,” said Kel- Tey, craftily. “T meau what does it do to the other fellow?” “Two tings. Dere is two tricks. One breaks der odder feller’s wrist.”” “Break his wrist?” “Sure ting.” “And the other—does what?” “Breaks his neck!” whispered Kelley.‘Tr TOP WEEKLY. . as Badger hissed. ‘That's the one you want to learn, old man!” Badger turned on him. “J an not anxious to serve time behind bars!” he exclaimed. ‘The wrist-break- ing trick will do me, I reckon.” “Just as you like,” eaid Skelding, with a scornful smile; “but 1’d feel like break- ing his neck if he’d hammered me the way he did you.’” Badger did not like this kind of talk. “J you are so fierce against Frank Merriwell, why don't you tackle him?" he asked, 5 “Because I can’t tackle him the way you ean,”? was the answer. “I can’t meet him ina fight. Sometime I may meet him in another way!” “here was deep significance in Skeld- ing’s final words. ‘his trick can be used ina face-to- face fight, can it?” the Kansas man asked the bruiser. “Sure Ving,” nodded Kelley. “And does it show fonl plainly?” “Not if der referee ain’t onter it and yer does it quick enough.” “phen that is what I'll learn,’? “AMI right,” nodded Kelley, with sat- isfaction. ‘Dat bein’ der case, I’il have ter ax youse ter retire, gents, as dis will not be anopen lesson, fer wot I'm goin’ ter teach him is a sceret.”” a So Chickering, Skelding and the others descended the stairs and left the place, slipping ont quickly, that they might not be seen emerging. An hour later, Badger followed them to the street. His face was flushed, and there was a strange light in his eyes. “T didn’t mean to learn the neck-break- ing trick,” he muttered; “but Kelley showed me how it cold he done in tack- Jing at football, and I could not help be- ing curious to know about it. DPM! never use it, Still, now that I know it, if 1 tumed pale, but Skelding were to tackle Merriwell in a practice game, I could kill him with a single hg!” The Westerner shivered a bit and hur- ried toward the callege. CHAPTER V. ‘THE SITUATION AT YALE. Fortunately, Frank Merriwell was one of those happy individuals who did not have to grind. He learned his studies with very little trouble, having a marvel- ous memory, as well as great reasoning powers and natural intuition. It had never been necessary for him to resort to pencil writing on his cuffs and other tricks in order to be up in recitations, and it is not strange that’ he was envied by many a poor fellow who had to plug away like a dog in order to keep up with his class. "The two hardest years of Frank’s life at Yale were gone. In junior year the pressure eased up somewhat, and he knew it would be quite easy the year following. ‘That gave him time for his athletic work —time he had been forced to take in pre- vious years on many an occasion when he had felt that he had no right to do so. Every day, at a certain hour, Frank ‘was seen in the gym, where he did a cer- tain umount of bag punching and other work. He was watchedewith interest by a number of students, who admired him or envied him, as the case might be. Frou the ground up Frank was beauti- fully developed. In no one direction was he over-developed, aud no part seemed neglected. His figure seemed perfect in every way, and his flesh was ke pink marble. He hada handsome head, like that of a Gteek god, set upon a round, full neck, His shoulders were square, yet withont a suggestion of angularity. His breast was full and high, indicating « splendid pair of lungs, while his back was something beautiful to see, with the mys-A TIP TOP WEEKLY. cles rolling up under his pink-white skin. His waist was neither too large nor too small.’ On most persons the waist seems merely that which holds the upper and lower portions of a human being together. ‘There is no particular development of it in any way, and no attention is given to it, But Frank had found out just how to anake the waist strong and supple and useful, and he had not neglected giving it proper training, any more than he had neglected the rest of his body. He had hips and thighs built like those of Apollo, muscular, yet graceful and beautiful. His legs from his hody ta the ground were those-of a trained runner, and yet the niuscles had uot been permitted to knot up anywhere apd make unsightly pro- trusions. Frank Merriwell had uot acquired all this physical perfection without effort, without hard work. It had been at the cost. of unceasing effortand vigilance. He had not been a strong boy, and he had been far from beiug perfect pliysically, as most boys are. However, at an early age he had awakened ta his hadily short- comings, and a desire to build himself up had been aroused within him. He did not goat it in a haphazard manner, but he first found out just what part of him needed development most, and then he learned liow to develop that particular part. Then he set about systematically and scientifically in building himself up, and he had kept at it. That explains how he had won, He had kept at it! Many boys start out well, with the best of de- terminations, hut they soon grow weary of the effort, failing to discover much progresdand they give it up. The only way to accomplish anv difficuit task in this world is to keep at it persistently, unceasingly, bravely. ‘There is one danger, however, against which the youth ambitious to build him- self up physically should beware. He should begin carefully and wotk slowly. Overwork is as bad, or worse, than no work, and almost anything can. be over- done. Frank had never dissipated. Don’t think I mean by that that he had never frolicked or entered into the sports so dear to the hearts of all true-born Amer can youths. Don't think T mean that he had never stopped up later than nine o'clock at night, Don’t think I mean that he had never in his life “made a night of it with the gang.” But he had taken care of himself, and he had not touched liquor or tobacco. Since returning to college, Frank had set about entering info the life of the place, as of old. Of coutse he was re- ceived with open arms, and yet, as has been shown, his return was not agreeably looked upon by all the students. ‘There were selfish ones who felt that Merry might overshadow themselves or their friends, and they had regarded him with envy and jealonsy. But Frank’s friends were everywhere, and his enenties could not be outspoken in their hatred, sa they were forced to congregate together and talk it over among themselves. Frank found a strange apathy had fall- enon some of the older men, who had become seniors. Some of them had made records in athletics, but now they were showing a surprising lack of enthusiasm, although they pretended to be interested. ‘They seemed willing to retire and give up their places to the younger men of the junior and sophomore classes—even of the freshman class. They talked about new blood being required, seeming to for- get that training and coolness are gener= ally superior to enthusiasm and green. ness. It seemed to Merry that something must be done to arouse the old spirit that had flourished and triumphed in his early days at college. He set about the task of‘IP TOP WEEKLY. 6 awakening it, and he found he had a load on his shoulders. Still Merry worked devotedly on the campus and the practice field, and he did not devote his time entirely to himself in the gym. By his urging and his influence, he brought some of the old-timers toa sealizing sense of the position of peril in which the college stood at that time In the past there had been considerable talk about Harvard brain and Vale brawn," but, since Yale’s sorry showing of the previous yeur, there were well- founded fears that Harvard was out- matching Vale in brawn as well as brain, Not that, outside her victories in debat- ing, Harvard never had any real good reason of boasting of superior intellectual powers; but surely her long line of al- most unbroken victories had given Yale every reason lo be proud of herself im the- athletic line. So Frank worked on, his one thought being to reawaken the old spirit in Yale and again place her in the ranks of the victors, He was not willing to believe that it was not possible for iter to arouse herself and return at a single bound to her old exalted position. Trak was not jealous of Buck Badger. In fact, Merry had fancied there was good material in the man, and he had hoped Radger would make the eleven. Knowing from past experience that the make-up of the regular eleven is never determined till after a number of the early games have been played, he was not willing to fight Badger with the under- standing that the defeated man should withdraw as a candidate for the team. He had felt that the'result, whatever it might be, was liable to be for the disadvantage of the eleven, and, in the face of charges of cowardice, he Had persisted in refusing to fight on such terms. As he had anticipated, Badger had made the eleven, as well as himself, for the Kansas man had shown himself strong, plucky, determined and quick to learn. But when, through the disability of the regular captain, Birch, Merry was made captain in the latter half of the Dart- mouth game, being placed at full-back, Badger immedhately betraved his jealousy and spleen. In short order, by refusing to obey Merty’s signals, he lost the ball to Dartinouth, who carried it through for a And later, finding a good opportunity, Badger kicked Prank fairly ‘on the head when the latter was dawn. After that game, as there was uo longer a question abont either of them making the eleven, Frank lost no time in meet- ing Badger and fighting him. The result is known to the reader, aud, although there was an attempt to keep the matter quiet, it became known to almost every student in college. Despite himself, Prank felt sorry about Badger. In the fellow he saw great possi- bilities. He believed that the man from Kansas might become a remarkably good football player in case he would control his jealousy and passions, But Merry feared that, judging from what he had already seen, the Westerner would think first of himself and then of his colleg® Snch men never do the best they possibly can for their college, as they will uot en- tirely gurrender their own selfish interests: ‘when such a susrender is necessary, But, no matter how much he feared this, Frank did not go about talking it to others. He knew that such a course would not result in any good, and would appear like spite or dislike for Badger on his part. Besides that, he hoped that his fears would prove foolish fears. Frank felt that the time would come when Badger would again face him in an attempt to whip him, but that thought did not trouble Merry at all. He kuew that never in his life had he heen in bet- ter condition, and he was keeping himself so, with particular pains not to over-train, tonch-down.6 and he did not fear the outcome of au- other struggle with the Westemer. He was not aware that Badger had re- solved tu resort to fuul means, now that fair had failed, and had paid to learn two of Buster Kelley’s trieks for disposing of a superior foe. Nor was Badger aware that Frank Mer- riwell had heen master of those tricks for years, together with many others, of which Kelley had not the faintest know!- edge. CHAPTER VI. A SOPHOMORE HATING CLUB. Hodge dropped into Pranks room, and fonnd Joe Gamp loafing there, while Merry ‘was digging away at his’ studies and talking to the New Hampshire youth at the same time, which was a feat wortly of special mention. “Come, Merriwell, Gamp,” said Bart. with me.”” “Where?” asked Frank. “