THE HAPPY TRAMP
Grandpa Martin stood looking down at the queer, burning rock. The blue
fire was flaming up brighter now, and it made a strange light on the
faces of the Curlytops and Hal as they gathered about. The sky was
cloudy and it was getting dark.
"Oh, what is it? What is it?" asked Ted and Jan.
"It smells just like old-fashioned sulphur matches that my grandmother
used to light," said Nora, who had come out, having seen the queer light
from the cook-tent.
"And it _is_ sulphur that is burning," said Grandpa Martin. "That rock
has sulphur in it, not gold, Hal. And it is the sulphur that is burning
with the blue fire."
"But what makes it?" asked the children.
Grandpa Martin did not answer for a few seconds. He stood again looking
down at the flaming blue rock. Mrs. Martin, who had started to put
Trouble to bed early, came out and looked.
"It's like something I once saw in the theater," said the maid. "I don't
like it--that blue light. It reminds me of the time our house was struck
by lightning--that sulphur smell."
"It is the same smell," said Mr. Martin. "Curlytops, I think you have
found something very queer in this blue rock. I don't know just what it
is, but we'll find out. See, the stone is burning like a lump of coal
now, but with a blue flame instead of red."
"Just like the night we saw the blue fire on the island before we came
camping here," said Ted. "Is it the same thing, Grandpa?"
"I don't know. Perhaps it is. Where did you get the blue rocks?"
"Over in the woods," answered Hal. "There's a great big one there. As
big as this tent."
"Is there?" some one suddenly asked. "Then please show me where it is!
Oh, can it be that at last I have found what I have been looking for so
long?"
The Curlytops and the others turned at the sound of this new and strange
voice. A man seemed to spring out of the bushes back of the tent. By
the light of the blue fire Ted and Jan saw that his clothes were ragged
and torn in many places.
"Oh! Oh!" gasped Jan. "That's the tramp!"
"Well, I guess maybe I do look like a tramp, all ragged and dirty as I
am," laughed the man, and his voice sounded pleasant. "But I am not a
regular tramp. I am Mr. Weston--Alfred Weston," he went on, speaking to
Grandpa Martin. "I haven't a card with me, but when I get washed and
dressed and shaved I'll look more like what I am. Excuse me for
intruding this way, but I could not keep from speaking when I heard what
you were talking about."
"Then aren't you a tramp?" asked Ted.
"No, though I have been _tramping_ all over this island looking for the
very blue rock you children seem to have found. I wear my oldest
clothes, just as my friend Professor Anderson does, for we have been
going through briar bushes, into caves and mud holes and our clothes are
a sad sight. But we are not tramps."
"Is there someone with you?" asked Grandpa Martin, looking over the
man's head toward the bushes, out of which he had come.
"There was another. Anderson is his name. But he has gone to the
village, and I was on my way to row across the lake to join him when I
happened to pass by your tent, saw the blue light, and heard what your
children said. Do you really know where there is a big blue rock like
this little one that is on fire?" he asked as he pointed to the flaming
blue light.
"Yes, we found a big one," said Hal.
"If you will show me where it is you will get a lot of money," said Mr.
Weston. "That is, if you will sell me the meteor," he went on to Grandpa
Martin. "I understand you own part of this island," he added.
"About half of it, yes. But are you looking for a meteor?"
"Yes, for a meteor, or fallen star, and the blue rock your children
found is part of it. We have been looking for it a long time, my friend
and myself, and we had about given up. Now we may get it. Will you sell
me the fallen star?" he asked.
"I'll see about it," promised Mr. Martin with a smile. "Perhaps you will
come into our tent and tell us about it. Are you--well, I was going to
say the tramp--but are you the man we saw before, wandering about our
camp?"
"I presume I am. I don't mind being called a tramp, for I certainly look
like one. However, now that the fallen star is found I don't need to be
so ragged."
"Are you the ragged man that pulled Trouble out of the spring?" asked
Ted, as they watched the blue light die away.
"I did pull a little boy out of the spring," answered Mr. Weston,
"though I didn't know his name was Trouble."
"That's only his pet name," laughed Grandpa Martin. "But come and sit
down and tell us your story. The children have been wondering a long
while what the blue light meant, and who the ragged man was. And,
to-day, they've been trying to find what became of the blue rocks that
Trouble made into a playhouse."
"I took those rocks, I'm sorry to say," answered the ragged man. "I'm
sorry to have spoiled Trouble's playhouse. I wanted those pieces of
rock, for I thought perhaps they were all I would ever be able to get of
the fallen star."
"Was the blue rock really once a star?" asked Hal.
"Well, yes, a part of one, or at least part of a meteor, or shooting
star, as they are called. Now I'll tell you all that happened, and I'm
sorry if I have frightened you. My friend and I didn't mean to.
"Some time ago," went on Mr. Weston, "we heard about Star Island--this
place that was so named because it was said a big meteor had landed here
many years back. Professor Anderson and I decided to come here and see
if we could find it for the museum which is connected with the college
in which Anderson teaches.
"For we knew that, though most meteors are burned up as they shoot
through the air before they strike the earth, yet some come down in big
chunks, and we wanted such a one if we could get it. So we hunted for it
all over this island. We saw you, but you were never very near.
Sometimes we stayed in the cave at night, but usually went back to the
mainland. All the while we were hunting for the blue rocks, for that is
the color of this particular meteor.
"A few nights before you folks came here to camp, when we were digging
in the ground hoping to find what we wanted, our shovel must have
struck a piece of the meteor, for there was a flash of blue fire that
burned for quite a while."
"We saw it," cried Ted, "and we didn't know what it was!"
"Teddy and me--we saw it!" added Jan.
"Well, that was all of the meteor we could find for some time," went on
Mr. Weston. "And as that burned up--was consumed--we didn't have any.
Then, the other night through the bushes we happened to come upon some
blue stones, and I took them away.
"Then my friend and I hunted again to find the big piece of the fallen
star, but we could not come across it. I was about to give up, but now
we are all right. I am so glad! Can you take me to the big blue rock?"
"We will to-morrow," answered Hal. "It's too dark to find it now."
"You had better stay in our camp until morning," was Grandpa Martin's
kindly invitation, and Mr. Weston did so.
"This meteor is a good bit like a sulphur match," said Mr. Weston. "When
anything hard, like iron or steel, strikes it, blue fire starts and
burns up the rock. The big piece will be very valuable.
"But we'll have to be careful not to set it ablaze. We picked up a lot
of different rocks on the island, hoping some of them might be pieces of
the meteor. But none was. Once I saw your little girl picking flowers,
as I was gathering rocks. I guess she thought I was a tramp. Did I scare
you?" he asked Janet.
"A little," she answered with a smile.
"Sometimes we stayed in a cave we found on the island," went on Mr.
Weston. "I thought once the meteor might be there, but it was not."
The next day Ted, Janet and Hal, followed by all the others in camp,
even down to Trouble, whose mother carried him, went to the place where
the big blue rock was buried in the side of the hill. As soon as he had
looked at it Mr. Weston said it was the very meteor for which he and
Professor Anderson had been looking so long. They seemed to have missed
coming to the hill.
The museum directors bought the fallen star from Grandpa Martin, on
whose part of the island it had fallen many years before, and so the
owner of Cherry Farm had as much money as before the flood spoiled so
many of his crops.
Thus the story of the fallen star, after which the island was named, was
true, you see, though it had happened so many years ago that most folk
had forgotten about it.
A few days after Mr. Weston had been led to the queer blue rock, he and
Professor Anderson, no longer dressed like tramps, brought some men to
the island and the big rock was carefully dug out with wooden shovels,
as the wood was soft and could not strike sparks and make blue fire.
"For a time," said Mr. Weston to Grandpa Martin, after the meteor had
been taken to the mainland in a big boat, "I thought you were a
scientist."
"Me--a scientist!" laughed the children's grandfather.
"Yes. I thought maybe you had heard about the fallen star and had come
here and were trying to find it, too."
"No, I haven't any use for fallen stars," said Mr. Martin. "I had heard
the story about one being on this island, but I never quite believed it.
I just came here to give the children a good time camping."
"Well, I think they had it--every one of them," laughed Mr. Weston, as
he looked at the brown Curlytops, who were tanned like Indians.
"Oh, we've had the loveliest time in the world!" cried Jan, as she held
her grandfather's hand. "We're going to stay here a long while yet.
Aren't we, Grandpa?"
"Well, I'm afraid not much longer," said Grandpa Martin. "The days are
getting shorter and the nights longer. It will soon be too cold to live
in a tent on Star Island."
"Oh, Grandpa!" And Jan looked sad.
"But we want to have fun!" cried Ted.
"Oh, I guess you'll have fun," said his mother. "You always do every
winter."
And the children did. In the next volume of this series, to be called
"The Curlytops Snowed In; or, Grand Fun with Skates and Sleds," you may
read about the good times they had when they went back home.
"Come on, Jan, we'll have a last ride with Nicknack!" called Ted to his
sister about a week after the meteor had been dug up. In a few days the
Curlytops were to leave their camp on Star Island. Hal Chester had gone
back to his home, promising to visit his friends again some day.
"I'm coming!" cried Jan.
"Me, too!" added Trouble. "I wants a wide!"
Into the goat cart they piled and off started Nicknack, waggling his
funny, stubby tail, for he enjoyed the children as much as they did him.
"Hurray!" yelled Ted. "Isn't this fun?" and he cracked the whip in the
air.
"Hurray!" yelled Jan and Trouble.
"Baa-a-a-a!" bleated Nicknack. That was his way of cheering.
And so we will leave the Curlytops and say good-bye.
THE END
THE CURLYTOPS SERIES
BY HOWARD R. GARIS
Author of the famous "Bedtime Animal Stories"
_12mo. Cloth. Beautifully Illustrated. Jacket in full color.
Price per volume, .80 cents, net_
[Illustration]
Splendid stories for the little girls and boys, told by one who
is a past master in the art of entertaining young people.
THE CURLYTOPS AT CHERRY FARM
_or Vacation Days in the Country_
A tale of happy vacation days on a farm. The Curlytops have many
exciting adventures.
THE CURLYTOPS ON STAR ISLAND
_or Camping out with Grandpa_
The Curlytops were delighted when grandpa took them to camp on
Star Island. There they had great fun and also helped to solve
a real mystery.
THE CURLYTOPS SNOWED IN
_or Grand Fun with Skates and Sleds_
Winter was a jolly time for the Curlytops, with their skates and
sleds, but when later they were snowed in they found many new
ways to enjoy themselves.
THE CURLYTOPS AT UNCLE FRANK'S RANCH
_or Little Folks on Pony Back_
Out West on their uncle's ranch they have a wonderful time among
the cowboys and on pony back.
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BY MINNIE E. PAULL
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[Illustration]
_Four bright and entertaining stories told in Mrs. Paull's
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ages of eight and fifteen years._
RUBY AND RUTHY
Ruby and Ruthie were not old enough to go to school, but they
certainly were lively enough to have many exciting adventures,
that taught many useful lessons needed to be learned by little
girls.
RUBY'S UPS AND DOWNS
There were troubles enough for a dozen grown-ups, but Ruby got
ahead of them all, and, in spite of them, became a favorite in
the lively times at school.
RUBY AT SCHOOL
Ruby had many surprises when she went to the impossible place
she heard called a boarding school, but every experience helped
to make her a stronger-minded girl.
RUBY'S VACATION
This volume shows how a little girl improves by having varieties
of experience both happy and unhappy, provided she thinks, and
is able to use her good sense. Ruby lives and learns.
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BY ROY ROCKWOOD
Author of the "Speedwell Boys Series" and the "Great Marvel
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[Illustration]
Never was there a more clever young aviator than Dave Dashaway.
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DAVE DASHAWAY THE YOUNG AVIATOR
_or In the Clouds for Fame and Fortune_
This initial volume tells how the hero ran away from his miserly
guardian, fell in with a successful airman, and became a young
aviator of note.
DAVE DASHAWAY AND HIS HYDROPLANE
_or Daring Adventures Over the Great Lakes_
Showing how Dave continued his career as a birdman and had many
adventures over the Great Lakes, and how he foiled the plans of
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DAVE DASHAWAY AND HIS GIANT AIRSHIP
_or A Marvellous Trip Across the Atlantic_
How the giant airship was constructed and how the daring young
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clouds from the new world to the old, is told in a way to hold
the reader spellbound.
DAVE DASHAWAY AROUND THE WORLD
_or A Young Yankee Aviator Among Many Nations_
An absorbing tale of a great air flight around the world, of
adventures in Alaska, Siberia and elsewhere. A true to life
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DAVE DASHAWAY: AIR CHAMPION
_or Wizard Work in the Clouds_
Dave makes several daring trips, and then enters a contest for
a big prize. An aviation tale thrilling in the extreme.
THE TOM FAIRFIELD SERIES
BY ALLEN CHAPMAN
Author of the "Fred Fenton Athletic Series," "The Boys of Pluck
Series," and "The Darewell Chums Series."
12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, _.80_ cents, postpaid.
[Illustration]
Tom Fairfield is a typical American lad, full of life and
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TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS
_or The Chums of Elmwood Hall_
Tells of how Tom started for school, of the mystery surrounding
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The first book in a line that is bound to become decidedly
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TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA
_or The Wreck of the Silver Star_
Tom's parents had gone to Australia and then been cast away
somewhere in the Pacific. Tom set out to find them and was
himself cast away. A thrilling picture of the perils of the
deep.
TOM FAIRFIELD IN CAMP
_or The Secret of the Old Mill_
The boys decided to go camping, and located near an old mill. A
wild man resided there and he made it decidedly lively for Tom
and his chums. The secret of the old mill adds to the interest
of the volume.
TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK
_or Working to Clear His Name_
While Tom was back at school some of his enemies tried to
get him into trouble. Something unusual occurred and Tom
was suspected of a crime. How he set to work to clear his
name is told in a manner to interest all young readers.
TOM FAIRFIELD'S HUNTING TRIP
_or Lost in the Wilderness_
Tom was only a schoolboy, but he loved to use a shotgun or a
rifle. In this volume we meet him on a hunting trip full of
outdoor life and good times around the campfire.
THE BOYS' OUTING LIBRARY
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BY CAPT. JAMES CARSON
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BY ROY ROCKWOOD
Dave Dashaway the Young Aviator
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Dave Dashaway Around the World
Dave Dashaway: Air Champion
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The Speedwell Boys and Their Ice Racer
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BY ALLEN CHAPMAN
Tom Fairfield's School Days
Tom Fairfield at Sea
Tom Fairfield in Camp
Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck
Tom Fairfield's Hunting Trip
THE FRED FENTON ATHLETIC SERIES
BY ALLEN CHAPMAN
Fred Fenton the Pitcher
Fred Fenton in the Line
Fred Fenton on the Crew
Fred Fenton on the Track
Fred Fenton: Marathon Runner
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BY ALICE B. EMERSON
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[Illustration]
Ruth Fielding was an orphan and came to live with her miserly
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the interest of every reader.
RUTH FIELDING OF THE RED MILL
_or Jasper Parloe's Secret_
RUTH FIELDING AT BRIARWOOD HALL
_or Solving the Campus Mystery_
RUTH FIELDING AT SNOW CAMP
_or Lost in the Backwoods_
RUTH FIELDING AT LIGHTHOUSE POINT
_or Nita, the Girl Castaway_
RUTH FIELDING AT SILVER RANCH
_or Schoolgirls Among the Cowboys_
RUTH FIELDING ON CLIFF ISLAND
_or The Old Hunter's Treasure Box_
RUTH FIELDING AT SUNRISE FARM
_or What Became of the Raby Orphans_
RUTH FIELDING AND THE GYPSIES
_or The Missing Pearl Necklace_
RUTH FIELDING IN MOVING PICTURES
_or Helping the Dormitory Fund_
RUTH FIELDING DOWN IN DIXIE
_or Great Days in the Land of Cotton_
RUTH FIELDING AT COLLEGE
_or The Missing Examination Papers_
RUTH FIELDING IN THE SADDLE
_or College Girls in the Land of Gold_
RUTH FIELDING IN THE RED CROSS
_or Doing Her Bit for Uncle Sam_
RUTH FIELDING AT THE WAR FRONT
_or The Hunt for a Lost Soldier_
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End of Project Gutenberg's The Curlytops on Star Island, by Howard R. Garis