Chapter XLVIII: All’s Well That Ends Well

It was half an hour before the colonel had rounded up the party he wished to take into Ophir with him, and during that time Frank was being congratulated warmly in the clubhouse on the success of the Ophir team. Mr. Bradlaugh, staid old gentleman that he was, fairly took the lad in his arms and gave him a hug.

“You did it, Merriwell,” he kept saying; “if it hadn’t been for you we couldn’t have won.”

When the colonel finally arrived with Jode and Ellis, Mr. Bradlaugh offered to give them a lift to the Ophir House in his car. Clancy and Ballard appeared just in time to form part of the load.

Merry’s chums had been wondering what it was that could have taken their chum off the field during the last half of that exciting game. Merriwell wouldn’t breathe a word on the ride into town, but told them to wait a little and the whole thing would be explained.

In less than fifteen minutes after leaving the clubhouse, Colonel Hawtrey, his two nephews, Merriwell, Clancy, and Ballard were ushered by Pophagan into a room where Hawkins was keeping watch over Shoup, alias Guffey.

Shoup had wrung out and dried off his clothes, and he had likewise washed his face and removed the rest of the color from his hair. The moment Jode Lenning saw him, he sank limply into a chair, white to the lips.

“I know you, you contemptible cur,” cried the colonel, shaking a finger in Shoup’s face. “You’re the fellow who, more than a year ago, brought a forged check to me and said my nephew, Darrel, gave it to you. I thought that Guffey and you might be one and the same person, and that’s why I was willing to bear with Jode for a while longer, and see what I could make out of his desire to get a new coach for Gold Hill. Tell me about that forgery, and do it quick. The truth, mind!”

“What will you do to me if I—I tell the truth?” quavered Shoup.

“Nothing, but if you lie I’ll see to it that you’re landed behind the bars.”

“And you’ll let that thirty dollars pass?” asked Shoup, looking toward Merriwell.

“I’ve already told you I would—if you tell the truth,” Merry answered.

“Well, here goes, then. I was a fool for ever coming back here, but Darrel had shown up and Lenning was scared, and wanted to do something to get rid of him. So I came on, when Lenning wired. I happen to be a fair football coach, and that was Lenning’s excuse for getting me here. But the main object of this trip, just as of the one before, was to do up Darrel.”

“Why did Jode want his half brother ‘done up’?” cut in the colonel.

“Why, Jode wanted all your property for himself,” answered Shoup, an ugly smile on his pasty face, “and that was his principal reason for wanting to get Darrel out of the way.”

“Go on,” said the colonel, between his teeth; “tell us about the forgery.”

“Jode planned it,” explained Shoup, “and furnished the forged check. I was to get Darrel into a game, dope his drink, and then accuse him of having given me the forged check. That’s the way it worked. Darrel was hazy and couldn’t remember what he’d done. Jode, of course, was at home with you, colonel, so you hadn’t a notion he was mixed up in it.”

“You’re a black-hearted scoundrel,” said the colonel, “but Jode Lenning is a whole lot worse. What have you to say, young man?” and he turned on his cowering and discredited nephew with gleaming eyes.

Jode tried to talk, but words failed him. He began to whimper.

“Is it true, what this fellow Shoup has told me?” thundered the colonel.

“Y-yes,” Jode answered.

“I already knew you were a coward,” said the colonel, “and I was tempted to think you were a knave as well, but I couldn’t be sure. It was necessary first to catch Shoup, and wring a confession from him. I thought, when you were so eager to have this Guffey come to Gold Hill, that he might be Shoup. Something in your manner aroused my suspicions. That is why I let the fellow come. To-day I asked Merriwell to coöperate with me and see what we could learn from the Gold Hill coach. Merriwell’s work surpassed my hopes and expectations. He made a star play, and, as a result, has cleared the name of his chum of every stain. As for you, Lenning, clear out. I’m done with you for good! I——”

Darrel caught his uncle’s sleeve, drew his head down, and whispered to him earnestly. The colonel shook his head, but Ellis continued to insist, and finally his uncle yielded.

“Ellis asks me to temper my indignation a little,” said he, “and to be a little more lenient. His motive does him credit, after the way he has suffered at your hands, Jode. You can go to my house and collect your traps; and, when you leave, I will give you a thousand dollars to make a fresh start in the world. Now, clear out! You go with him, Shoup!” he added.

Jode got up and staggered from the room. Shoup followed him, turning at the door to laugh derisively, and bid those in the room a mocking good-by.

“Sufferin’ horn toads!” muttered Hawkins, “that’s no way to treat a law breaker.”

“Better that, Hawkins,” answered the colonel, “than to put Shoup through for his crimes and not get the evidence to clear Darrel. My lad, will you now honor me with your hand?”

Darrel pressed the colonel’s palm joyfully, and then whirled to shake hands with Merriwell.

“You’re the one who did it, old man!” he exclaimed, in a trembling voice. “If it hadn’t been for you, Chip, I’d still be the ‘boy from Nowhere.’”

THE END.

“Frank Merriwell, Jr. in Arizona” will be the title of the next volume of the MERRIWELL SERIES, No. 217. Frank’s adventures in the West make up an absorbing tale.

BOOKS THAT NEVER GROW OLD

Alger Series

Clean Adventure Stories for Boys

The Most Complete List Published

The following list does not contain all the books that Horatio Alger wrote, but it contains most of them, and certainly the best.

Horatio Alger is to boys what Charles Dickens is to grown-ups. His work is just as popular to-day as it was years ago. The books have a quality, the value of which is beyond computation.

There are legions of boys of foreign parents who are being helped along the road to true Americanism by reading these books which are so peculiarly American in tone that the reader cannot fail to absorb some of the spirit of fair play and clean living which is so characteristically American.

In this list will be included certain books by Edward Stratemeyer, Oliver Optic, and other authors who wrote the Alger type of stories, which are equal in interest and wholesomeness with those written by the famous author after whom this great line of books for boys is named.

_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_

By HORATIO ALGER, Jr.

1—Driven from Home
2—A Cousin’s Conspiracy
3—Ned Newton
4—Andy Gordon
5—Tony, the Tramp
6—The Five Hundred Dollar Check
7—Helping Himself
8—Making His Way
9—Try and Trust
10—Only an Irish Boy
11—Jed, the Poorhouse Boy
12—Chester Rand
13—Grit, the Young Boatman of Pine Point
14—Joe’s Luck
15—From Farm Boy to Senator
16—The Young Outlaw
17—Jack’s Ward
18—Dean Dunham
19—In a New World
20—Both Sides of the Continent
21—The Store Boy
22—Brave and Bold
23—A New York Boy

In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance promptly, on account of delays in transportation.

To be published in January, 1929

24—Bob Burton
25—The Young Adventurer

To be published in February, 1929.

26—Julius, the Street Boy
27—Adrift in New York

To be published in March, 1929.

28—Tom Brace
29—Struggling Upward

To be published in April, 1929.

30—The Adventures of a New York Telegraph Boy
31—Tom Tracy

To be published in May, 1929

32—The Young Acrobat
33—Bound to Rise
34—Hector’s Inheritance

To be published in June, 1929

35—Do and Dare
36—The Tin Box

NOW IN PRINT

By EDWARD STRATEMEYER

98—The Last Cruise of _The Spitfire_
99—Reuben Stone’s Discovery
100—True to Himself
101—Richard Dare’s Venture
102—Oliver Bright’s Search
103—To Alaska for Gold
104—The Young Auctioneer
105—Bound to Be an Electrician
106—Shorthand Tom
108—Joe, the Surveyor
109—Larry, the Wanderer
110—The Young Ranchman
111—The Young Lumberman
112—The Young Explorers
113—Boys of the Wilderness
114—Boys of the Great Northwest
115—Boys of the Gold Field
116—For His Country
117—Comrades in Peril
118—The Young Pearl Hunters
119—The Young Bandmaster
121—On Fortune’s Trail
122—Lost in the Land of Ice
123—Bob, the Photographer

By OLIVER OPTIC

124—Among the Missing
125—His Own Helper
126—Honest Kit Dunstable
127—Every Inch a Boy
128—The Young Pilot
129—Always in Luck
130—Rich and Humble
131—In School and Out
133—Work and Win
135—Haste and Waste
136—Royal Tarr’s Pluck
137—The Prisoners of the Cave
138—Louis Chiswick’s Mission
139—The Professor’s Son
140—The Young Hermit
141—The Cruise of _The Dandy_
142—Building Himself Up
143—Lyon Hart’s Heroism
144—Three Young Silver Kings
145—Making a Man of Himself
146—Striving for His Own
147—Through by Daylight
148—Lightning Express
149—On Time
150—Switch Off
151—Brake Up
152—Bear and Forbear
153—The “Starry Flag”
154—Breaking Away
155—Seek and Find
156—Freaks of Fortune
157—Make or Break
158—Down the River
159—The Boat Club
160—All Aboard
161—Now or Never
162—Try Again
163—Poor and Proud
164—Little by Little
165—The Sailor Boy
166—The Yankee Middy
167—Brave Old Salt

* * * * *

175—Fighting for Fortune By Roy Franklin
176—The Young Steel Worker By Frank H. MacDougal
177—The Go-ahead Boys By Gale Richards
178—For the Right By Roy Franklin
179—The Motor Cycle Boys By Donald Grayson
180—The Wall Street Boy By Allan Montgomery
181—Stemming the Tide By Roy Franklin
182—On High Gear By Donald Grayson
183—A Wall Street Fortune By Allan Montgomery
184—Winning by Courage By Roy Franklin
185—From Auto to Airship By Donald Grayson
186—Camp and Canoe By Remson Douglas
187—Winning Against Odds By Roy Franklin
188—The Luck of Vance Sevier By Frederick Gibson
189—The Island Castaway By Roy Franklin
190—The Boy Marvel By Frank H. MacDougal
191—A Boy With a Purpose By Roy Franklin
192—The River Fugitives By Remson Douglas

A CARNIVAL OF ACTION

ADVENTURE LIBRARY

Splendid, Interesting, Big Stories

This line is devoted exclusively to a splendid type of adventure story, in the big outdoors. There is really a breath of fresh air in each of them, and the reader who pays fifteen cents for a copy of this line feels that he has received his money’s worth and a little more.

The authors of these books are experienced in the art of writing, and know just what the up-to-date American reader wants.

_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_

By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK

1—The Desert Argonaut
2—A Quarter to Four
3—Thorndyke of the Bonita
4—A Round Trip to the Year 2000
5—The Gold Gleaners
6—The Spur of Necessity
7—The Mysterious Mission
8—The Goal of a Million
9—Marooned in 1492
10—Running the Signal
11—His Friend the Enemy
12—In the Web
13—A Deep Sea Game
14—The Paymaster’s Special
15—Adrift in the Unknown
16—Jim Dexter, Cattleman
17—Juggling with Liberty
18—Back from Bedlam
19—A River Tangle
20—Billionaire Pro Tem
21—In the Wake of the Scimitar
22—His Audacious Highness
23—At Daggers Drawn
24—The Eighth Wonder
25—The Cat’s-Paw
26—The Cotton Bag
27—Little Miss Vassar
28—Cast Away at the Pole
29—The Testing of Noyes
30—The Fateful Seventh
31—Montana
32—The Deserter
33—The Sheriff of Broken Bow
34—Wanted: A Highwayman
35—Frisbie of San Antone
36—His Last Dollar
37—Fools for Luck
38—Dare of Darling & Co.
39—Trailing “The Josephine”

* * * * *

40—The Snapshot Chap By Bertram Lebhar
41—Brothers of the Thin Wire By Franklin Pitt
42—Jungle Intrigue By Edmond Lawrence
43—His Snapshot Lordship By Bertram Lebhar
44—Folly Lode By James F. Dorrance
45—The Forest Rogue By Julian G. Wharton
46—Snapshot Artillery By Bertram Lebhar
47—Stanley Holt, Thoroughbred By Ralph Boston
48—The Riddle and the Ring By Gordon McLaren
49—The Black Eye Snapshot By Bertram Lebhar
50—Bainbridge of Bangor By Julian G. Wharton
51—Amid Crashing Hills By Edmond Lawrence
52—The Big Bet Snapshot By Bertram Lebhar
53—Boots and Saddles By J. Aubrey Tyson
54—Hazzard of West Point By Edmond Lawrence
55—Service Courageous By Don Cameron Shafer
56—On Post By Bertram Lebhar
57—Jack Cope, Trooper By Roy Fessenden
58—Service Audacious By Don Cameron Shafer
59—When Fortune Dares By Emerson Baker
60—In the Land of Treasure By Barry Wolcott
61—A Soul Laid Bare By J. Kenilworth Egerton
62—Wireless Sid By Dana R. Preston
63—Garrison’s Finish By W.  B.  M. Ferguson
64—Bob Storm of the Navy By Ensign Lee Tempest, U.  S.  N.
65—Golden Bighorn By William Wallace Cook
66—The Square Deal Garage By Burt L. Standish
67—Ridgway of Montana By Wm. MacLeod Raine
68—The Motor Wizard’s Daring By Burt L. Standish
80—A Submarine Cruise By Donald Grayson
81—The Vanishing Junk By Remson Douglas
82—In Strange Waters By Donald Grayson
83—Afloat with Capt. Dynamite By Wilson Carew
84—Bob Steele’s Motor Boat By Donald Grayson
85—The Filibusters By Frederick Gibson
86—Bob Steele’s Reverse By Donald Grayson
87—On Wooded Trails By Frederick Gibson
88—Bob Steele’s New Aeroplane By Donald Grayson
89—Buck Badger’s Ranch By Russell Williams
90—Bob Steele’s Last Flight By Donald Grayson
91—In Full Cry By Richard Marsh
92—The Fatal Legacy By Louis Tracy
93—His Heritage By W.  B.  M. Ferguson
94—The Treasure of the Golden Crater By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
95—The Ape and the Diamond By Richard Marsh
96—The Camp in the Snow By William Murray Graydon
97—Nobody’s Fool By Frederick Gibson
98—A Case of Identity By Richard Marsh
99—Randy, the Pilot By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry
100—The Reluctant Queen By J. Kenilworth Egerton
101—The Goddess—A Demon By Richard Marsh
102—The Survivor By E. Phillips Oppenheim
103—The Fate of the Plotter By Louis Tracy
104—Philip Bennion’s Death By Richard Marsh

In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance promptly, on account of delays in transportation.

To be published in January, 1929.

105—Mysterious Mr. Sabin By E. Phillips Oppenheim
106—The Strange Disappearance of Lady Delia By Louis Tracy

To be published in February, 1929.

107—Master of Men By E. Phillips Oppenheim
108—The Whistle of Fate By Richard Marsh

To be published in March, 1929.

109—The Wooing of Esther Gray By E. Louis Tracy
110—The Great Awakening By E. Phillips Oppenheim

To be published in April, 1929.

111—A Strange Wooing By Richard Marsh
112—His Father’s Crime By E. Phillips Oppenheim

To be published in May, 1929.

113—At the Court of the Maharaja By Louis Tracy
114—In the Service of Love By Richard Marsh

To be published in June, 1929.

115—As a Man Lives By E. Phillips Oppenheim
116—The Glitter of Jewels By J. Kenilworth Egerton

_NOTE THE NEW TITLES LISTED_

Western Story Library

For Everyone Who Likes Adventure

Ted Strong and his band of broncho-busters have most exciting adventures in this line of attractive big books, and furnish the reader with an almost unlimited number of thrills.

If you like a really good Western cowboy story, then this line is made expressly for you.

_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_

1—Ted Strong, Cowboy By Edward C. Taylor
2—Ted Strong Among the Cattlemen By Edward C. Taylor
3—Ted Strong’s Black Mountain Ranch By Edward C. Taylor
4—Ted Strong With Rifle and Lasso By Edward C. Taylor
5—Ted Strong Lost in the Desert By Edward C. Taylor
6—Ted Strong Fighting the Rustlers By Edward C. Taylor
7—Ted Strong and the Rival Miners By Edward C. Taylor
8—Ted Strong and the Last of the Herd By Edward C. Taylor
9—Ted Strong on a Mountain Trail By Edward C. Taylor
10—Ted Strong Across the Prairie By Edward C. Taylor
11—Ted Strong Out for Big Game By Edward C. Taylor
12—Ted Strong Challenged By Edward C. Taylor
13—Ted Strong’s Close Call By Edward C. Taylor
14—Ted Strong’s Passport By Edward C. Taylor
15—Ted Strong’s Nebraska Ranch By Edward C. Taylor
16—Ted Strong’s Cattle Drive By Edward C. Taylor
17—Ted Strong’s Stampede By Edward C. Taylor
18—Ted Strong’s Prairie Trail By Edward C. Taylor
19—Ted Strong’s Surprise By Edward C. Taylor
20—Ted Strong’s Wolf Hunters By Edward C. Taylor
21—Ted Strong’s Crooked Trail By Edward C. Taylor
22—Ted Strong in Colorado By Edward C. Taylor
23—Ted Strong’s Justice By Edward C. Taylor

In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance promptly, on account of delays in transportation.

To be published in January, 1929.

24—Ted Strong’s Treasure By Edward C. Taylor
25—Ted Strong’s Search By Edward C. Taylor

To be published in February, 1929.

26—Ted Strong’s Diamond Mine By Edward C. Taylor
27—Ted Strong’s Manful Task By Edward C. Taylor

To be published in March, 1929.

28—Ted Strong, Manager By Edward C. Taylor
29—Ted Strong’s Man Hunt By Edward C. Taylor

To be published in April, 1929.

30—Ted Strong’s Gold Mine By Edward C. Taylor
31—Ted Strong’s Broncho Boys By Edward C. Taylor
32—Ted Strong’s Wild Horse By Edward C. Taylor

To be published in May, 1929.

33—Ted Strong’s Tenderfoot By Edward C. Taylor
34—Ted Strong’s Stowaway By Edward C. Taylor

To be published in June, 1929.

35—Ted Strong’s Prize Herd By Edward C. Taylor
36—Ted Strong’s Trouble By Edward C. Taylor

VALUE

Although literature is generally regarded as more or less of a luxury, there is such a thing as getting your money’s worth, and a little more, in the way of literature.

For seventy years the firm of STREET & SMITH has specialized in the publication of fiction. During all this time everything bearing our imprint represented good value for the money.

When, about thirty years ago, we began the publication of a series of paper bound books, which has since become world famous by the name of “The S & S Novel,” we did our best to publish the right sort of fiction. The sales of these books proved that we have succeeded in interesting and pleasing the American reading public.

There are over 1,800 different titles in our catalogue, and every title above reproach from every standpoint. The STREET & SMITH NOVEL has been rightly called the fiction of the masses.

Do not be deceived by books which look like the STREET & SMITH NOVELS but which are made like them only in looks. Insist upon having paper covered books bearing the imprint of STREET & SMITH, and so be sure of securing full value for your money.

STREET & SMITH CORPORATION
79 Seventh Avenue :: New York City

READ

When you want real recreation in your leisure hours, read! Read the STREET & SMITH NOVELS!

They are the cheapest and most interesting reading matter published in America to-day. No jazz—no sex—just big, clean, interesting books. There are hundreds of different titles, among which you will find a lot of exactly the sort of reading you want.

So, when you get tired of rolling around in your Lady Lizzie or listening to the blah-blah of your radio, hie yourself to the nearest news dealer, grab off a copy of a good detective, adventure or love story, and then READ!

Read the STREET & SMITH NOVELS. Catalogue sent upon request.

Street & Smith Corporation
79 Seventh Avenue New York City

Printed in the U. S. A.