BRIGHT SKIES
Riverport went fairly wild that night over the success of the school
crew in the race against the crack oarsmen of Mechanicsburg. Perhaps
there were a few fellows who took little or no satisfaction in the
great victory. Buck Lemington might be set down as one of these;
because, as a rule, Buck never enjoyed seeing his school win, unless he
could be the central attraction, the hero to whom the plaudits of the
cheering throngs were mainly given.
But no one cared much what Buck Lemington thought. Surely Fred Fenton
was of a mind that the Lemingtons, father and son, were soon to be
routed, horse, foot and artillery, when the long missing Hiram
Masterson returned, as he had promised to do in that letter from far
away Hong Kong, and tell all that he knew about the scheme of those in
the syndicate to cheat Mr. Fenton out of his just rights.
And Bristles, too, was a happy fellow those days. He had known what it
was to taste of the bitterness of having unfounded suspicion cast upon
him. The pleasure of feeling that his name was fully cleared made him
secretly resolve that if he knew it, his mother would never have to
experience the sorrow that was evidently in store for Gabe Larkins'
parent, unless that tricky boy changed his ways.
Nor was Bristles apt to forget that he owed most of his present
condition of satisfaction to the earnest efforts of his good chum, Fred
Fenton. Who but Fred would have taken it upon himself to interview Miss
Muster, and get acquainted with the facts in the case? And who but he
could have guessed the identity of the guilty party; which he later on
proved so wonderfully well, in the presence of the old maid who had met
with the loss of her precious jewels?
Bristles never told what a siege of suspense he had passed through. And
if there were any curious ones among his mates, who took it upon
themselves to wonder why their usually lively, wide-awake comrade
moped, as he had done for a time, they had to take it out in guessing.
Fred did have one very pleasant little surprise sprung upon him, and
which made him feel more drawn to the old maid than ever.
On the very night of the boat race, when the atmosphere of all
Riverport was vibrating with parading crowds, and bonfires were already
springing up, to celebrate the great victory of the young oarsmen,
Fred, returning home about supper time, found a little packet beside
his plate.
It had not come by mail, and undoubtedly his mother knew something
about who sent or brought it; for there was a glow in her eyes as she
watched him handle it, with a questioning look in his own.
"Suppose you open it, Fred, instead of trying to guess," proposed his
sister Kate.
"Well," he replied, laughingly, "that does seem like a sensible thing
for you to say, Kate. Perhaps I am a little dazed or rattled; who
wouldn't be after taking part in such a grand race as that? You were
there, Mom; for I noticed you waving your pocket handkerchief; and I
wager now, you never saw anybody but the Fenton boy who was on the
crew. I say, now, what's all this mean?"
Father, mother, and sister all watching him, Fred had opened the little
packet; and out upon the table rolled three handsome opals, that seemed
to take on all the hues of the rainbow as the light of the evening lamp
fell upon them.
He also unrolled a sheet of paper on which were a few lines in a rather
crabbed hand; which Fred would once have said was just like the
character of the whimsical old maid herself, but which he now knew must
be caused by age.
"Dear Boy:--I want you to accept these few tokens of my esteem, to
know that I shall never forget what you have done to show me how
necessary it always should be to look well before you leap. You
will make me happy by keeping these, and saying nothing about the
folly of
"Your Old Maid Friend,
"Alicia Muster."
"Just to think, she sends me these valuable opals, because I happened
to help prove that Bristles didn't take her gems," Fred said,
wonderingly, as he looked down at the handsome present that had been
given to him.
"Well, I think you earned them," remarked Mrs. Fenton, proudly; "and
when your father hears the whole story, which I have only kept from
telling him because I wanted you to have that pleasure, I'm sure he'll
agree with me. Yes, you ought to be a lawyer, Fred. You are cut out for
a successful one."
"And then to think that he was on the crew that beat those smart
Mechanicsburg fellows," Kate declared, as though to her mind that fact
dwarfed everything else; "but, Fred, they are beginning to talk already
how they mean to get even with Riverport this Fall. You know they had a
fine gymnasium given to them by a rich man, and already they have
started to practice all sorts of track events. I understand they mean
to challenge Riverport to a meet; and having the advantage of that
gymnasium, they expect to pay us back for the times we've beaten them."
"Oh! they do, eh?" remarked Fred, as though not greatly worried; "well,
there will be two who must have a say in that, Riverport as well as
Mechanicsburg. Perhaps they may turn out to have the better all-'round
athletes; time will tell."
And time did tell; for the proposed athletic meet came to pass in the
Fall. What stirring things happened along about that time, as well as
the inspiring incidents connected with the great meet itself, will be
recorded in the next story of this series, to be called: "Fred Fenton
on the Track; Or, The Athletics of Riverport School."
Of course the Fentons were looking eagerly forward to the time when
Hiram Masterson would redeem his promise to return and testify against
the overbearing syndicate that was endeavoring to get possession of
that rich Alaska mine, which had once belonged to Fred's uncle.
Days might pass, but each one meant in all probability that the missing
witness, abducted by orders of the powerful combination of capitalists,
was drawing closer; and every night on his return home Mr. Fenton fully
expected to find the man from Alaska sitting at the table awaiting his
coming.
True, he seemed to have so much knowledge of the almost unlimited
powers of he syndicate, with which Squire Lemington was connected in
some way, that Hiram had declared his intention of coming in some sort
of disguise, so that he could give his evidence under oath before his
unscrupulous uncle even knew that he was on this side of the ocean.
And so, on the whole, those summer days were times of almost unlimited
pleasure to Fred Fenton. After his unsuccessful attempt to burn the
racing boat of the Riverport schoolboys, Buck Lemington had remained a
long time quiet. Possibly he feared that his crony, Conrad Jimmerson,
when he was caught in Colon's quaint trap, might have told something of
the truth before his mouth was closed by hearing that threatening
signal outside. And Buck was waiting now to learn if anything was about
to be done, in order to bring him to punishment.
Of course such a nature as his could not remain very quiet for any
great length of time; and as the days grew into weeks doubtless his
resentment toward Fred would once more become hot.
Then there would be more exciting times; for when Buck really worked
himself up to a certain pitch, things were apt to happen.
The boys and girls of Riverport always did manage to have a good time
during the summer holidays. True, there could be no singing school, and
dances in the barn, such as winter brought along in its train; no
skating on the river, sleighing over country roads with a pretty girl
alongside, and the merry chime of bells in the air; but then picnics
were held every little while; and as for the group of boys who somehow
looked upon Fred as a sort of leader, there was hardly a weekday during
the entire vacation that they did not go fishing, or at least pay a
visit to the old "swimming hole."
When together, Bristles and Fred often talked about the affair of the
opals. The latter said that his aunt kept in constant touch with Gabe
Larkins, and seemed to be gaining considerable influence over the wild
lad.
"I don't just know whether he means to reform, or is only pulling the
wool over Aunt Alicia's eyes," Bristles declared; "but, anyhow, he
seems to be walking a straight line now. Why, his mother told mine just
yesterday that she didn't know what had come over Gabe, he was that
considerate of her feelings nowadays. She wondered if he could be
feeling ill, and expectin' to die. But maw just told her not to worry;
that she reckoned he was only feelin' sorry because he'd been so bad in
the past."
"I hope he means it," said Fred, with considerable earnestness in his
voice. "It's a pretty hard thing for the leopard to change his spots,
father says; but if Gabe does turn over a new leaf, he certainly ought
to be helped by everybody."
"Oh!" said Bristles, quickly, "I stopped and shook hands with him the
last time we met. And say, Fred, there did seem to be something a
little different about his eyes; looked me square in the face, and you
know he used to be seeing somethin' over your head every time before. I
wonder now does it mean anything?"
But that again was another thing that only time could prove. Whether
Gabe did really see a light, and mean to change his ways, or was
playing a foxy game for some purpose, there could be no way of telling,
until he chose to come out into the open.
Here, with the horizon looking so bright for those in whose fortunes we
have come to feel such a deep interest, it may be as well for us to say
good-bye for the present, and leave a further recital of their
adventures and contests to another time.
THE END
THE SADDLE BOYS SERIES
By CAPTAIN JAMES CARSON
12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.
All lads who love life in the open air and a good steed, will want to
peruse these books. Captain Carson knows his subject thoroughly, and
his stories are as pleasing as they are healthful and instructive.
THE SADDLE BOYS OF THE ROCKIES
_or Lost on Thunder Mountain_
Telling how the lads started out to solve the mystery of a great noise
in the mountains--how they got lost--and of the things they discovered.
THE SADDLE BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON
_or The Hermit of the Cave_
A weird and wonderful story of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, told
in a most absorbing manner. The Saddle Boys are to the front in a
manner to please all young readers.
THE SADDLE BOYS ON THE PLAINS
_or After a Treasure of Gold_
In this story the scene is shifted to the great plains of the southwest
and then to the Mexican border. There is a stirring struggle for gold,
told as only Captain Carson can tell it.
THE SADDLE BOYS AT CIRCLE RANCH
_or In at the Grand Round-up_
Here we have lively times at the ranch, and likewise the particulars of
a grand round-up of cattle and encounters with wild animals and also
cattle thieves. A story that breathes the very air of the plains.
THE SADDLE BOYS ON MEXICAN TRAILS
_or In the Hands of the Enemy_
The scene is shifted in this volume to Mexico. The boys go on an
important errand, and are caught between the lines of the Mexican
soldiers. They are captured and for a while things look black for them;
but all ends happily.
CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
THE SPEEDWELL BOYS SERIES
By ROY ROCKWOOD
Author of "The Dave Dashaway Series," "Great Marvel Series," etc.
12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.
All boys who love to be on the go will welcome the Speed well boys.
They are clean cut and loyal lads.
THE SPEEDWELL BOYS ON MOTOR CYCLES
_or The Mystery of a Great Conflagration_
The lads were poor, but they did a rich man a great service and he
presented them with their motor cycles. What a great fire led to is
exceedingly well told.
THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR RACING AUTO
_or A Run for the Golden Cup_
A tale of automobiling and of intense rivalry on the road. There was an
endurance run and the boys entered the contest. On the run they rounded
up some men who were wanted by the law.
THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR POWER LAUNCH
_or To the Rescue of the Castaways_
Here is an unusual story. There was a wreck, and the lads, in their
power launch, set out to the rescue. A vivid picture of a great storm
adds to the interest of the tale.
THE SPEEDWELL BOYS IN A SUBMARINE
_or The Lost Treasure of Rocky Cove_
An old sailor knows of a treasure lost under water because of a cliff
falling into the sea. The boys get a chance to go out in a submarine
and they make a hunt for the treasure.
THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR ICE RACER
_or The Perils of a Great Blizzard_
The boys had an idea for a new sort of iceboat, to be run by combined
wind and motor power. How they built the craft, and what fine times
they had on board of it, is well related.
CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
THE FRED FENTON ATHLETIC SERIES
By ALLEN CHAPMAN
Author of "The Tom Fairfield Series," "The Boys of Pluck Series" and
"The Darewell Chums Series."
12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.
A line of tales embracing school athletics. Fred is a true type of the
American schoolboy of to-day.
FRED FENTON THE PITCHER
_or The Rivals of Riverport School_
When Fred came to Riverport none of the school lads knew him, but he
speedily proved his worth in the baseball box. A true picture of school
baseball.
FRED FENTON IN THE LINE
_or The Football Boys of Riverport School_
When Fall came in the thoughts of the boys turned to football. Fred
went in the line, and again proved his worth, making a run that helped
to win a great game.
FRED FENTON ON THE CREW
_or The Young Oarsmen of Riverport School_
In this volume the scene is shifted to the river, and Fred and his
chums show how they can handle the oars. There are many other
adventures, all dear to the hearts of boys.
FRED FENTON ON THE TRACK
_or The Athletes of Riverport School_
Track athletics form a subject of vast interest to many boys, and here
is a tale telling of great running races, high jumping, and the like.
Fred again proves himself a hero in the best sense of that term.
FRED FENTON: MARATHON RUNNER
or _The Great Race at Riverport School_
Fred is taking a post-graduate course at the school when the subject of
Marathon running came up. A race is arranged, and Fred shows both his
friends and his enemies what he can do. An athletic story of special
merit.
CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
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, 65 cents, postpaid.
Tom Fairfield is a typical American lad, full of life and energy, a boy
who believes in doing things. To know Tom is to love him.
TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS
_or The Chums of Elmwood Hall_
Tells of how Tom started for school, of the mystery surrounding one of
the Hall seniors, and of how the hero went to the rescue. The first
book in a line that is bound to become decidedly popular.
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 camp-fire.
CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
THE DAVE DASHAWAY SERIES
By ROY ROCKWOOD
Author of the "Speedwell Boys Series" and the "Great Marvel Series."
12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.
Never was there a more clever young aviator than Dave Dashaway. All
up-to-date lads will surely wish to read about him.
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 some
Canadian smugglers.
DAVE DASHAWAY AND HIS GIANT AIRSHIP
_or A Marvellous Trip Across the Atlantic_
How the giant airship was constructed and how the daring young aviator
and his friends made the hazardous journey through the 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 picture of what may be
accomplished in the near future.
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.
CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
THE WEBSTER SERIES
By FRANK V. WEBSTER
Mr. WEBSTER'S style is very much like that of the boys' favorite
author, the late lamented Horatio Alger, Jr., but his tales are
thoroughly up-to-date.
Cloth. 12mo. Over 200 pages each. Illustrated. Stamped in various
colors.
Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.
Only A Farm Boy
_or Dan Hardy's Rise in Life_
The Boy From The Ranch
_or Roy Bradner's City Experiences_
The Young Treasure Hunter
_or Fred Stanley's Trip to Alaska_
The Boy Pilot of the Lakes
_or Nat Morton's Perils_
Tom The Telephone Boy
_or The Mystery of a Message_
Bob The Castaway
_or The Wreck of the Eagle_
The Newsboy Partners
_or Who Was Dick Bost_
Two Boy Gold Miners
_or Lost in the Mountains_
The Young Firemen of Lakeville
_or Herbert Dare's Pluck_
The Boys of Bellwood School
_or Frank Jordan's Triumph_
Jack the Runaway
_or On the Road with a Circus_
Bob Chester's Grit
_or From Ranch to Riches_
Airship Andy
_or The Luck of a Brave Boy_
High School Rivals
_or Fred Markham's Struggles_
Dairy The Life Saver
_or The Heroes of the Coast_
Dick The Bank Boy
_or A Missing Fortune_
Ben Hardy's Flying Machine
_or Making a Record for Himself_
Harry Watson's High School Days
_or The Rivals of Rivertown_
Comrades of the Saddle
_or The Young Rough Riders of the Plains_
Tom Taylor at West Point
_or The Old Army Officer's Secret_
The Boy Scouts of Lennox
_or Hiking Over Big Bear Mountain_
The Boys of the Wireless
_or a Stirring Rescue from the Deep_
Cowboy Dave
_or The Round-up at Rolling River_
Jack of the Pony Express
_or The Young Rider of the Mountain Trail_
The Boys of the Battleship
_or For the Honor of Uncle Sam_
CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
End of Project Gutenberg's Fred Fenton on the Crew, by Allen Chapman