“_The true test is when they buy it a second time_”
ALGER SERIES No. 175
Fighting _for_
Fortune
_By_ ROY FRANKLIN
[Illustration]
STREET & SMITH CORP.
PUBLISHERS · NEW YORK
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 which 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
24--Bob Burton
25--The Young Adventurer
26--Julius, the Street Boy
27--Adrift in New York
28--Tom Brace
29--Struggling Upward
30--The Adventures of a New York Telegraph Boy
31--Tom Tracy
32--The Young Acrobat
33--Bound to Rise
34--Hector’s Inheritance
35--Do and Dare
36--The Tin Box
37--Tom, the Bootblack
38--Risen from the Ranks
39--Shifting for Himself
40--Walt and Hope
41--Sam’s Chance
42--Striving for Fortune
43--Phil, the Fiddler
44--Slow and Sure
45--Walter Sherwood’s Probation
46--The Trials and Triumphs of Mark Mason
47--The Young Salesman
48--Andy Grant’s Pluck
49--Facing the World
50--Luke Walton
51--Strive and Succeed
52--From Canal Boy to President
53--The Erie Train Boy
54--Paul, the Peddler
55--The Young Miner
56--Charlie Codman’s Cruise
57--A Debt of Honor
58--The Young Explorer
59--Ben’s Nugget
60--The Errand Boy
61--Frank and Fearless
62--Frank Hunter’s Peril
63--Adrift in the City
64--Tom Thatcher’s Fortune
65--Tom Turner’s Legacy
66--Dan, the Newsboy
67--Digging for Gold
68--Lester’s Luck
69--In Search of Treasure
70--Frank’s Campaign
71--Bernard Brook’s Adventures
72--Robert Coverdale’s Struggles
73--Paul Prescott’s Charge
74--Mark Manning’s Mission
75--Rupert’s Ambition
76--Sink or Swim
77--The Backwoods Boy
78--Tom Temple’s Career
79--Ben Bruce
80--The Young Musician
81--The Telegraph Boy
82--Work and Win
83--The Train Boy
84--The Cash Boy
85--Herbert Carter’s Legacy
86--Strong and Steady
87--Lost at Sea
88--From Farm to Fortune
89--Young Captain Jack
90--Joe, the Hotel Boy
91--Out for Business
92--Falling in with Fortune
93--Nelson, the Newsboy
94--Randy of the River
95--Jerry, the Backwoods Boy
96--Ben Logan’s Triumph
97--The Young Book Agent
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
107--Fighting for His Own
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
120--Boys of the Fort
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
132--Watch and Wait
133--Work and Win
134--Hope and Have
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
* * * * *
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 July, 1926.
163--Poor and Proud By Oliver Optic
164--Little by Little By Oliver Optic
165--The Sailor Boy By Oliver Optic
To be published in August, 1926.
166--The Yankee Middy By Oliver Optic
167--Brave Old Salt By Oliver Optic
To be published in September, 1926.
168--Luck and Pluck By Horatio Alger, Jr.
169--Ragged Dick By Horatio Alger, Jr.
To be published in October, 1926.
170--Fame and Fortune By Horatio Alger, Jr.
171--Mark, the Match Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr.
To be published in November, 1926.
172--Rough and Ready By Horatio Alger, Jr.
173--Ben, the Luggage Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr.
To be published in December, 1926.
174--Rufus and Rose By Horatio Alger, Jr.
175--Fighting for Fortune By Roy Franklin
176--The Young Steel Worker By Frank H. MacDougal
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.
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 July, 1926.
39--Trailing _The Josephine_ By William Wallace Cook
40--The Snapshot Chap By Bertram Lebhar
To be published in August, 1926.
41--Brothers of the Thin Wire By Franklin Pitt
42--Jungle Intrigue By Edmond Lawrence
43--His Snapshot Lordship By Bertram Lebhar
To be published in September, 1926.
44--Folly Lode By James F. Dorrance
45--The Forest Rogue By Julian G. Wharton
To be published in October, 1926.
46--Snapshot Artillery By Bertram Lebhar
47--Stanley Holt, Thoroughbred By Ralph Boston
To be published in November, 1926.
48--The Riddle and the Ring By Gordon MacLaren
49--The Black Eye Snapshot By Bertram Lebhar
To be published in December, 1926.
50--Bainbridge of Bangor By Julian G. Wharton
51--Amid Crashing Hills By Edmond Lawrence
Fighting for Fortune
OR,
Making a Place for Himself
BY
ROY FRANKLIN
Author of “The Lost Mine,” “On Fortune’s Trail,”
“Winning by Courage,” et cetera.
[Illustration]
(Printed in the U. S. A.)
STREET & SMITH CORPORATION
PUBLISHERS
79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York
Copyright, 1909
By STREET & SMITH
Fighting for Fortune
(Printed In the U. S. A.)
All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign
languages, including the Scandinavian.
FIGHTING FOR FORTUNE.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. A BOYISH CHOICE.
CHAPTER II. LEFT BEHIND.
CHAPTER III. THE SLY HAND OF THE ENEMY.
CHAPTER IV. “MAN OVERBOARD!”
CHAPTER V. AN AMAZING DISCOVERY.
CHAPTER VI. THE EIGHT-THOUSAND-DOLLAR CHECK.
CHAPTER VII. THE NIGHT FIRE.
CHAPTER VIII. THE MORNING NEWS.
CHAPTER IX. TIM DEMANDS HIS DUES.
CHAPTER X. A TELEPHONE MESSAGE.
CHAPTER XI. UNDER SUSPICION.
CHAPTER XII. THE RACE BETWEEN THE STEAMERS.
CHAPTER XIII. THE FATE OF THE “WARRIOR.”
CHAPTER XIV. A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF MYSTERY.
CHAPTER XV. BEHIND PRISON BARS.
CHAPTER XVI. HELPLESS AND HOPELESS.
CHAPTER XVII. STRANGE MYSTERIES.
CHAPTER XVIII. TALK OF ESCAPE.
CHAPTER XIX. DIGGING THEIR WAY OUT.
CHAPTER XX. THE FLIGHT FROM PRISON.
CHAPTER XXI. MARCUS BECOMES A DETECTIVE.
CHAPTER XXII. ON THE TRAIL.
CHAPTER XXIII. AT MILLVILLE AGAIN.
CHAPTER XXIV. WORSE AND WORSE.
CHAPTER XXV. DEAN MERCER IN JAIL.
CHAPTER XXVI. CRAZY MEG’S MARK.
CHAPTER XXVII. A FRUITLESS SEARCH.
CHAPTER XXVIII. RELEASED ON BAIL.
CHAPTER XXIX. THE SECRET ENEMY.
CHAPTER XXX. MARCUS DISCOVERS A CLUE.
CHAPTER XXXI. WHAT THE BOYS FOUND.
CHAPTER XXXII. IN THE VALLEY.
CHAPTER XXXIII. IN OLD MEG’S CAVE.
CHAPTER XXXIV. IN A HARD PLIGHT.
CHAPTER XXXV. STARTLING ADVENTURES.
CHAPTER XXXVI. TIM DOWNEY ARRESTED.
CHAPTER XXXVII. THE RECKONING.
CHAPTER I.
A BOYISH CHOICE.
Dean Mercer drew a breath of relief as he stepped from the musty law
office of his former employer, Russell Montague, into the open air.
He knew that he had made the most momentous decision of his life--a
decision which was to shape his whole future course of action. In doing
this he had abandoned a promising law course, overcame the natural
preference of his parents and “struck out for himself,” as he put it.
“I can’t bear the stifling old place!” he exclaimed, giving vent to his
feelings with a low exclamation of exultation, as the fresh breeze from
Lake Seneca cooled his overheated temples. “Don’t that feel good--free,
just as I feel, free!
“I do not blame Mr. Montague for wanting to keep me, just as I was
becoming useful, and thinking, as he does, that he was doing father and
mother a great favor. I am grateful to him for his six months’ kindly
supervision of my fate, as he put it.
“Mother was loath to have me leave, but father could see more clearly
than she that my heart was not in it. They all have called it ‘a boyish
choice.’ Strange they all should have used the same words. But I am in
for it, and, make or break, I am going to win. Sleepy old town, little
do you realize that you are about to be suddenly awakened.”
Again the youthful speaker laughed softly to himself, his handsome,
manly countenance showing a firmness of character not usually seen in a
youth of seventeen.
Suddenly a look of concern swept over his face, and he started on a
smart run toward the lake shore, murmuring as he ran:
“The _Warrior_ is about to start. I shall miss my passage.”
Five minutes of his rapid advance brought Dean to within a few yards of
where one of the boats that plied on the lake, between that town and
another at the foot of the lake, was chafing at its moorings. Catching
sight of her commander, Dean asked:
“Is the _Warrior_ about to start, Captain Weymouth?”
“Start? Bless you, lad, did you ever know the _Warrior_ to start on
time? It will be a good two hours before we leave our moorings.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Then Dean added to himself:
“I shall have ample time to see Judge Oglesby, as I ought to, before
leaving for Springfield. Hello! what’s going on over yonder?”
If everything was quiet about the wharf, Dean had suddenly discovered
that there was excitement reigning but a short distance away, though
nothing could be seen to indicate trouble.
Still cries of distress came from near at hand, and a moment’s study of
the situation told Dean that they came from behind a pile of old boxes
and barrels.
Without further hesitation he sprang swiftly toward the spot, and in a
moment these bitter words, uttered in a revengeful tone, came to his
ears:
“Stung again!”
Biff--whack--biff! rang on the air, mingled with the cries for “help!”
Then Dean Mercer abruptly came upon a sight which made his blood boil
with indignation. A burly-framed youth of eighteen had succeeded in
throwing to the ground a boy of nearly his age, but considerably
smaller, and was pummelling him most unmercifully.
“Sass me, will ye?” half questioned, half answered the belligerent
bully, continuing to pound his victim with unremitting vengeance.
“Stop, Tim Downey!” fairly shouted Dean, who had quickly recognized the
bully.
Then, without stopping for the other to cease his beating, if he
would, Dean seized the fellow by the collar and hurled him backward a
dozen yards, when the other whirled about on his feet like a top for a
moment, to fall in a heap at last.
The abused boy slowly staggered to his feet, rubbing his eyes and
staring stupidly upon Dean, as if he was too bewildered to speak, which
in truth he was. He was considerably smaller than Dean, and a stranger
to him.
“Has he hurt you very much?” asked Dean.
“Broke me all up,” replied the latter. “And I was just walking along
without speaking to any one. I----”
“You crib every durned word you lisp!” cried Tim Downey fiercely,
regaining his feet at this juncture.
Then seeing and recognizing Dean, he snapped:
“So it’s you that hev durst to meddle in my ’fairs! Drat yer picter,
I’ll fix ye so ye won’t look in the glass fer one good spell!”
Tim had clenched his fists and was about to spring on Dean, when the
latter said, in a clear, ringing tone:
“Lay a hand on me if you dare, Tim Downey.”
“I do dare!” yelled the bully, suddenly making a dash for the other.
Tim could never tell just what took place in the next half minute. But
he soon found himself lying prone upon the ground again. He got up
slower than he had before, his eyes filled with dirt and a stinging
sensation behind the ear where Dean Mercer’s fist had landed. He stood
glowering upon his victor without speaking.
Dean, seeing he had quite knocked out the bully for the time, turned to
speak to the boy he had rescued from the other’s abuse.
“You look like a stranger in Millville?”
“I am, mister. My name is Marcus Ellison. I sha’n’t forget the good
turn you did me. I thank you, and, if you don’t mind, I’ll be going.
Hope the fellow won’t make you any trouble on my account.”
“Never fear for that.”
Seeing that the strange youth was anxious to be going his way, Dean
said nothing further to him, while he again faced his enemy.
“Mebbe ye think ye’ve done yerself up brown with that, Dean Mercer. But
I’ll do you up browner afore I’m through with yer miserable meddling.
I know a thing or two that you don’t think I know,” and with these
words the bully hastily left the place, Dean looking after him with a
quizzical expression upon his countenance.
“Didn’t take long to stop that fuss,” he mused. “But perhaps it isn’t
ended as far as I am concerned. Tim Downey has the reputation of being
the worst boy in town, but that does not mean that I need fear him.
Wonder what made that other boy in such a hurry.”
Dean then came out from the dark corner into the main street which ran
nearly parallel with the waterline.
Millville lacked but one quality to make it one of the most beautiful
and attractive places anywhere in the country. That quality was life, a
very essential element.
Situated at the head of one of the most beautiful sheets of water in
our fair land, its broad bosom dotted with fairy-like islands, it was
located so as to command the business of a long line of towns running
up and down the lake. Summer tourists had already been attracted here,
and several villas and groups of cottages had sprung up among the
delightful groves that covered its isles and lined its shore.
Dean had not gone a dozen steps before he stopped with a short whistle.
He had seen a man rapidly approaching him, and his name was called
anxiously. He saw at a glance that the newcomer was Mr. Montague, his
recent employer and master.
“Whew!” panted the lawyer, quite out of breath with his exertions, “I
was afraid I should miss you, Dean.”
“A delay in the starting of the steamer leaves me here, Mr. Montague.
Is there anything I can do for you?”
“You are going to Springfield?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then I want you to do an errand for me. I forgot it when you left my
office, I was so flustered with your leaving.”
“Anything I can do for you, Mr. Montague, I will gladly do.”
“I thought you would. Come with me to a side street. It is something
important and confidential.”
Dean followed his friend away from the main thoroughfare, though not a
person was in sight at that moment.
“I am going to intrust you with an errand, Dean, I would not trust
with another. Here is this wallet for you to take to Springfield. It
contains a thousand dollars in money and papers that are more valuable
than the money. You remember the Ellison case?”
“Yes. You mean the Robert Ellison who was tried for murder?”
“Exactly. But we appealed, and he is to be given another chance.
Well, I have found new evidence that will clear him. The proof is in
that wallet. Take the papers and money to Mr. Durand, my associate at
Springfield, and hand him the package as soon as possible. Mind you, do
not let anyone else get it.”
“I will guard it with my life, Mr. Montague.”
“I know I can trust you, Dean. And I hope you will have reconsidered
your hasty leave of me, and resume your law studies.”
“I do not believe I ever shall, Mr. Montague.”
“Time will show. Everything is made clear in those papers, but if
Mr. Durand wants me, I will come to Springfield upon short notice.
Good-day. The _Warrior_ must be about to start.”
“Good-day, sir.”
As the couple separated, each to go his way, the scowling face of
Tim Downey appeared around the corner of a near-by building, and the
tall, angular figure of the young bully came into full sight, while he
watched the departure of Dean Mercer, muttering under his breath as he
did so:
“So the wise Rube has fallen into a big pile of money! A thousand
dollars and something a feller don’t understand. Guess he don’t size me
up if he thinks I’m going to slump on that.”