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.

To be published in August, 1926.

To be published in September, 1926.

To be published in October, 1926.

To be published in November, 1926.

To be published in December, 1926.

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.

To be published in August, 1926.

To be published in September, 1926.

To be published in October, 1926.

To be published in November, 1926.

To be published in December, 1926.

[Pg 3]

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.

(Printed in the U. S. A.)

STREET & SMITH CORPORATION PUBLISHERS 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York

[Pg 4]

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.

[Pg 5]

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[Pg 6] 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?”

[Pg 7]

“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[Pg 8] 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:

[Pg 9]

“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.”

[Pg 10]

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[Pg 11] 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.”

[Pg 12]

“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[Pg 13] 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.”

[Pg 14]

CHAPTER II.

LEFT BEHIND.

Tim Downey was the worst boy in Millville. Everybody in the village knew it, and Tim himself knew it, and rather gloried in the fact.

His parents were worthless, dissolute characters, who lived on the sands north of the village, where a low community of squatters and fishermen resided.

Tim had been twice in jail for stealing, and was avoided by all respectable boys in Millville.

Unconscious of the discovery his enemy had made, Dean Mercer walked with rapid steps in the direction of the more attractive portion of the town, where the better class of dwellings were to be found.

One of the finest of these was the residence of Judge Oglesby, and hither he was shaping his course. He soon came in sight of the well-kept grounds with groves of maples and birches, under whose cooling shade a brawling stream ran zigzag across one corner. The owner of this beautiful estate had left its surroundings in their natural state, as far as it had been possible without sacrificing his convenience.

[Pg 15]

The concrete driveway ran under an iron arch hung with electric lights of different colors and supported by two massive stone posts. A pair of huge stone dogs, as if on guard duty, crouched near the entrance to the magnificent retreat inside.

A bright boy of a dozen years was astride of one of these mute sentinels as Dean approached, while a pretty miss of fifteen, his sister, was warning him against falling from his perch.

At sight of the newcomer, the active youngster called out with boyish friendliness that put to rout all pretension to polite manners:

“Hello, Dean! Papa is waiting for you.”

Nodding to the youthful speaker, Dean bowed courteously to the sister, as he met her gaze with a look of admiration.

“Yes; you will find papa in the library, Dean,” she said, with a smile of welcome. “He told me to tell you to come right in, though he has company. He is such a strange-looking and acting man, too.”

“Indeed, Miss Eva. Did you learn his name?”

“No; but papa said he was a fine sailor. He looks and acts more like a big brown bear. And don’t you think instead of ringing the door bell——”

[Pg 16]

“He yelled like a pirate to the servants: ‘Avast there, you lubbers! Ship ahoy!’” broke in the boy, with enthusiasm.

“Do be still, Manly,” admonished his sister. “What is the mystery of all this, Dean?” she asked. “I am sure you know, for papa hinted that he had enlisted you in some new enterprise of his.”

“And he also pledged me to secrecy, Miss Eva. If you will watch the lake a few days, I think you will discover the key to the mystery.”

As she did not seem inclined to reply to this, Dean continued his approach to the fine residence of his wealthy friend.

The owner must have been watching for him, as he met him at the door and ushered him into his spacious library without delay.