Allen Chapman

“ Markham's eyes grew big with excitement. Then his face fell, as he said:
"I'd like nothing better in the world, but business men don't hire strangers without a recommendation. I can give none. I'll be square with you. My name isn't Markham at all. I can't tell you my real one until maybe a long, long time. I wore that moustache partly as a disguise."
"Well, all that is your business, Markham," said Frank. ”

“ Frank questioned the rascal and found out Purnell had been Wacker's partner in the dishonest mail order scheme. Purnell had fallen down the chute while trying to escape from the marshal. His back was injured and the fellow was in a dying condition. He begged Frank to take him to some place -where he could die in peace.
"I am sorry for you," said Frank. If you really are badly hurt—"
"Don't doubt it. I know what I'm talking about," said Purnell. "I've only a few days left."
"I want to do right," said Frank slowly.
"Then help a poor, broken wretch to die in peace," pleaded Purnell. ”

“ He had to call to Christmas to reassure and quiet the animal. The dog was tearing at the fence harried in such a frenzied manner that Frank feared he would severely injure himself.
"How did Christmas ever get this far away from home?" he reflected, getting off the boulders and onto the ground again. "Say, if that Stoggs has gone deliberately out of his territory and caught him at Greenville, I'll get the boys to come here and tar and leather him. Easy, old fellow," called Frank to Christmas, who, yelping frantically, could still be heard throwing himself against the boards of the fence. ”

“ Morton made such an excited jump straight towards his young visitor that Frank was rather startled.
"Young man," he said, very solemnly, "if you want me to lose all the really profound admiration I feel towards you for the business-like way in which you have managed things, don't, for mercy's sake, tell me that you have been bitten, too, with the fatal, crazy, irrational dream that you want to invent something!" ”

“ Why, mother, If I can only get a start, if I can get hold of a few novelties and do a little advertising—"
"Oh, Frank, It takes money to do all that!"
"And brains. Mostly brains and industry, Mr. Gregson says. Mother, now or soon, here, at Greenville or somewhere else, I am determined to give the mail order idea a trial."
"Mail order, Frank?"
"Capital! excellent!" cried Frank with enthusiasm. "Why, mother, you have suggested the very catchy name. I will use to advertise by—'Mail Order Frank'!" ”

“ I shall go out and visit small towns and sell from door to door, or even from the wagon, till I hear from that missing money, or get on my feet again."
"You're a good one," pronounced Darry with an admiring sparkle in his eye, slapping Frank heartily on the shoulder. "You're a stubborn one, too, so I won't intrude offers of assistance only to be turned down."
"All the time," resumed Frank, "I shall be looking out for a trace of Markham. See here, Darry, I can't get that Dale Wacker off my mind. Who are his companions? Where does he hang out? ”

“ Then a spry, nimble form dropped from the car roof to the platform. Frank made out a boy about his own age. He was dressed wretchedly, and was thin and weak-looking, and his face was grimed, but he must have had pluck, for, running straight up to the would-be thief, he plied the weapon in his grasp like a flail.
A sharp blow made the ruffian roar with pain. Holding a hand to his eye, he retreated down the platform, fairly beaten off.
"There's a police officer," said Frank suddenly, noticing a man wearing a uniform come running down the platform from the direction of the waiting room. ”

“ The old clerk had sprung to his feet, gaping in consternation at him. Pryor's friend was convulsed with internal mirth. Pryor himself did not look altogether displeased at the situation.
Frank thought that Dorsett would actually leap upon him and strike him with the whip. The latter, however, with a hoarse growl in his throat, allowed Frank to proceed on his way unhindered.
"We shall hear from this of course—my mother and I," said the youth to himself as he gained the street. "Mr. Dorsett will store this up against me, hard. All right—I've done my simple duty and I'll stand by the results." ”

“ A young lady kept the books. Frank had engaged a crippled young man as a stenographer, and he was a good one. Markham and himself had each an office to himself. Upstairs was the stock and shipping rooms employing four boys.
"System and sense" had been Frank's watchwords—the mail order business was a pronounced success on that basis.
"A gentleman to see you," spoke the stenographer, arousing Frank from a most pleasing day dream.
Frank looked up to greet a bronzed, earnest-eyed man of middle age. He was erect and military in his bearing.
"Is a young man named Markham employed here?" ”

“ Lying loose around this link was a larger ring of wire.
"What's the puzzle?" inquired Frank, looking over the little device.
"To get that big ring over all the other rings, the little square and the triangle."
"Oh, I see," said Frank, working at the device industriously, but finally asking: "Can it be done?"
"Readily—look here," and Markham, taking the puzzle, deftly slipped the ring over all the obstacles, and then worked it back again into its original place.
"I say, that is mighty clever," declared Frank. "Show me slower, now. The slip over the triangle is the trick, eh? Good! ”

“ He ate a good lunch with appetizing vigor, secured his bicycle repair kit, and was soon down the road, whistling cheerily all the way to the big woods.
As Frank neared the spot where he had left Christmas and the bicycle, he was greeted with loud and repeated barking.
"That's strange," he mused. "Christmas isn't given to such demonstrations when on duty. Some one must have come In sight or hearing. Hey, old fellow, what's all this rumpus?" questioned Frank, as, emerging from a copse, he came in full view of the dog. ”

“ Ismond bitterly.
"Law is law," prated the mean old usurer.
"Why have you never mentioned this before?" demanded Frank, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Because, you insolent young snip," retorted old Dorsett, "I wanted to pay you off for some of your fine airs."
"Well, Mr. Dorsett," said Mrs. Ismond, "I shall contest this unjust claim."
"All right," jeered Dorsett, retreating down the steps, and beckoning to his companion, "then within thirty minutes I'll put an embargo on your leaving the county until I have my money, according to law." ”

“ He had just finished cutting a week's supply of kindling wood in the wood shed, when Stet popped into view over the back fence.
Stet tried to look like a real detective. He glanced back over his shoulder. He even said "Hist!" in first hailing Frank. Then he asked:
"Going away to-day?"
"I've got to, Stet," answered Frank. "Have you been looking up that Wacker fellow?"
"I've been doing nothing else," answered Stet, putting on a serious, careworn look. "Say, he's a bad one. Hangs out at the worst places on Railroad Street, and plays cards all the time." ”

“ If I were you, Frank, in any new printed matter you get out I would refer to your apple corer as a decided improvement on the old one. I think, even, I would illustrate these improvements."
"An excellent Idea, Markham," declared Frank. "Further, I don't know but it would be a good thing to offer one of the new corers, free on return of an old one, charging only the postage."
"Oh, we're learning," declared Markham, buoyantly. "This thing is a decided go."
Frank was immersed in business during the rest of that week. Markham proved an energetic and reliable assistant. ”

“ Frank readily accompanied the marshal. When they reached the police station he was taken down stairs into the lock-up.
"Hi, let me out of here, will you?" demanded his recent visitor, noisily jangling the door of his cell.
"Keep quiet, you," ordered the marshal. "Here's the young man who runs the mail order business here in Pleasantville."
"Oh, is it," cried the prisoner, with a savage stare at Frank. "Let me out, officer. I want about two minutes chance at the miserable swindler."
"It will pay you to act with some reason," warned the marshal. ”

“ A group of girls in a summer house running out over the water furnished Frank with his first customers. He sold two friendship rings and sixteen postal cards.
A crowd of idle men took fire on the puzzle proposition, as two men examining the wire devices got rating one another as to their respective ability to get the ring off first. A dozen puzzles were purchased in as many minutes.
Frank went the rounds of the verandas, meeting with very fair success. The people there had plenty of money to spare, time hung rather heavy on their hands, and they welcomed his arrival as a diverson. ”

“ Frank affected unconcern and indifference.
"Don't let that worry you, mother," he said, leading her back into the house.
"But, Frank, he can put us out!"
"If we stay to let him, probably. The law he has invoked to rob us, may also enable him to evict us, mother, but he won't win in the end. You say you dislike the place. Very well, we will move."
"But where to, Frank?"
"This isn't the only house in Greenville, is it, mother?" asked Frank, smiling reassuringly.
"What's more, Greenville isn't the only town in creation. Stop your fretting, now. ”