  After her West Indian cruise the Frolic dropped anchor in New York harbor, and, to his surprise, Mark Merrill found a leave of absence granted him from active duty. A letter from his mother partly explained the situation. She had begged the leniency of a leave for him. Upon his arrival in B—— his mother met him, and upon the drive home he learned the story, which I will now let the reader know. Mark’s father had been a wild, but not wicked, lad, and his mother had married a second time. The stepfather, Vance Vanloo, had treated the youth so cruelly, wishing to get rid of him so that his own son could get possession of his wife’s valuable estates, that the lad had run away to sea. He had the proper spirit in him, and had worked his way up from the forecastle to the command of a fine vessel, when he had fallen in love with a young girl who was crossing the ocean with her invalid father. The father had died, and was buried at sea, and the daughter, falling in love also with the handsome young captain, had married him. And she it was who afterward became Mark Merrill’s mother. But soon after little Mark reached his twelfth year the father was lost at sea, and his wife was left destitute, for, as sorrows never come singly, what they had So it was that Mark, born upon the sea and reared upon his father’s vessel, turned his attention to the water to earn a living for himself and mother. They had sought the coast of Maine, near B——, and afterward became dwellers, by the kindness of the agent, in the grand old mansion known as Spook Hall. But, better still, an inquiring attorney had sought out the heirs of the estate, and of other large property coming to them, and found them in Mrs. Merrill and her son. So the Vanloo mansion, old Spook Hall, was in reality the home of Mrs. Merrill, who suddenly found herself a very rich woman. Such was the mystery hanging over the Merrills, and hovering about Beacon Castle, and such was the story told to the young naval officer during his drive to the place so long dreaded as Spook Hall, but which had been fitted up and refurnished by Mrs. Merrill to welcome home its master. A pleasant month did Mark spend at home, and while there he gave away in marriage, for her father had died the year before, pretty Virgene Rich to Herbert Nazro, of the United States Navy, and a handsome couple they were, too. And Mark Merrill? But if I say more I fear I will be pointing too directly at the officer who has been my hero, and whom, perhaps, too many already have recognized; so I will let fall the curtain upon the gallant young sailor who won the victory in his fight for fame. THE END. THE CREAM OF JUVENILE FICTION THE BOYS’ OWN LIBRARY A Selection of the Best Books for Boys by the Most Popular Authors The titles in this splendid juvenile series have been selected with care, and as a result all the stories can be relied upon for their excellence. They are bright and sparkling; not over-burdened with lengthy descriptions, but brimful of adventure from the first page to the last—in fact they are just the kind of yarns that appeal strongly to the healthy boy who is fond of thrilling exploits and deeds of heroism. Among the authors whose names are included in the Boys’ Own Library are Horatio Alger, Jr., Edward S. Ellis, James Otis, Capt. Ralph Bonehill, Burt L. Standish, Gilbert Patten and Frank H. Converse. SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE BOYS’ OWN LIBRARY All the books in this series are copyrighted, printed on good paper, large type, illustrated, printed wrappers, handsome cloth covers stamped in inks and gold—fifteen special cover designs. 140 Titles—Price, per Volume, 75 cents For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by the publisher, DAVID McKAY, HORATIO ALGER, Jr. One of the best known and most popular writers. Good, clean, healthy stories for the American Boy. C. B. ASHLEY. One of the best stories ever written on hunting, trapping and adventure in the West, after the Custer Massacre. Gilbert, the Boy Trapper ANNIE ASHMORE. A splendid story, recording the adventures of a boy with smugglers. Smuggler’s Cave, The CAPT. RALPH BONEHILL. Capt. Bonehill is in the very front rank as an author of boys’ stories. He writes also under the name of Stratemeyer and Winfield. These are two of his best works. WALTER F. BRUNS. An excellent story of adventure in the celebrated Sunk Lands of Missouri and Kansas. In the Sunk Lands FRANK H. CONVERSE. This writer has established a splendid reputation as a boys’ author, and although his books usually command $1.25 per volume, we offer the following at a more popular price. HARRY COLLINGWOOD. One of England’s most successful writers of stories for boys. His best story is Pirate Island GEORGE H. COOMER. Two books we highly recommend. One is a splendid story of adventure at sea, when American ships were in every port in the world, and the other tells of adventures while the first railway in the Andes Mountains was being built. WILLIAM DALTON. Three stories by one of the very greatest writers for boys. The stories deal with boys’ adventures in India, China and Abyssinia. These books are strongly recommended for boys’ reading, as they contain a large amount of historical information. EDWARD S. ELLIS. These books are considered the best works this well-known writer ever produced. No better reading for bright young Americans. GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. For the past fifty years Mr. Fenn has been writing books for boys and popular fiction. His books are justly popular throughout the English-speaking world. We publish the following select list of his boys’ books, which we consider the best he ever wrote. ENSIGN CLARKE FITCH, U. S. N. A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, and thoroughly familiar with all naval matters. Mr. Fitch has devoted himself to literature, and has written a series of books for boys that every WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDON. An author of world-wide popularity. Mr. Graydon is essentially a friend of young people, and we offer herewith ten of his best works, wherein he relates a great diversity of interesting adventures in various parts of the world, combined with accurate historical data. LIEUT. FREDERICK GARRISON, U. S. A. Every American boy takes a keen interest in the affairs of West Point. No more capable writer on this popular subject could be found than Lieut. Garrison, who vividly describes the life, adventures and unique incidents that have occurred in that great institution—in these famous West Point stories. HEADON HILL. The hunt for gold has always been a popular subject for consideration, and Mr. Hill has added a splendid story on the subject in this romance of the Klondyke. Spectre Gold HENRY HARRISON LEWIS. Mr. Lewis is a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and has written a great many books for boys. Among his best works are the following titles—the subjects include a vast series of adventures in all parts of the world. The historical data is correct, and they should be read by all boys, for the excellent information they contain. LIEUT. LIONEL LOUNSBERRY. A series of books embracing many adventures under our famous naval commanders, and with our army during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Founded on sound history, these books are written for boys, with the idea of combining pleasure with profit; to cultivate a fondness for study—especially of what has been accomplished by our army and navy. BROOKS McCORMICK. Four splendid books of adventure on sea and land, by this well-known writer for boys. WALTER MORRIS. This charming story contains thirty-two chapters of just the sort of school life that charms the boy readers. Bob Porter at Lakeview Academy STANLEY NORRIS. Mr. Norris is without a rival as a writer of “Circus Stories” for boys. These four books are full of thrilling adventures, but good, wholesome reading for young Americans. LIEUT. JAMES K. ORTON. When a boy has read one of Lieut. Orton’s books, it requires no urging to induce him to read the others. Not a dull page in any of them. JAMES OTIS. Mr. Otis is known by nearly every American boy, and needs no introduction here. The following copyrights are among his best: GILBERT PATTEN. Mr. Patten has had the distinction of having his books adopted by the U. S. Government for all naval libraries on board our war ships. While aiming to avoid the extravagant and sensational, the stories contain enough thrilling incidents to please the lad who loves action and adventure. In the Rockspur stories the description of their Baseball and Football Games and other contests with rival clubs and teams make very exciting and absorbing reading; and few boys with warm blood in their veins, having once begun the perusal of one of these books, will willingly lay it down till it is finished. ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE. Mr. Rathborne’s stories for boys have the peculiar charm of dealing with localities and conditions with which he is thoroughly familiar. The scenes of these excellent stories are along the Florida coast and on the western prairies. ARTHUR SEWELL. An American story by an American author. It relates how a Yankee boy overcame many obstacles in school and out. Thoroughly interesting from start to finish. Gay Dashleigh’s Academy Days CAPT. DAVID SOUTHWICK. An exceptionally good story of frontier life among the Indians in the far West, during the early settlement period. Jack Wheeler The Famous Frank Merriwell Stories. BURT L. STANDISH. No modern series of tales for boys and youths has met with anything like the cordial reception and popularity accorded to the Frank Merriwell Stories. There must be a reason for this and there is. Frank Merriwell, as portrayed by the author, is a jolly whole-souled, honest, courageous American lad, who appeals to the hearts of the boys. He has no bad habits, and his manliness inculcates the idea that it is not necessary for a boy to indulge in petty vices to be a hero. Frank Merriwell’s example is a shining light for every ambitious lad to follow. Six volumes now ready: VICTOR ST. CLAIR. These books are full of good, clean adventure, thrilling enough to please the full-blooded wide-awake boy, yet containing nothing to which there can be any objection from those who are careful as to the kind of books they put into the hands of the young. MATTHEW WHITE, JR. Good, healthy, strong books for the American lad. No more interesting books for the young appear on our lists. ARTHUR M. WINFIELD. One of the most popular authors of boys’ books. He writes also under the name of Bonehill and Stratemeyer. Here are three of his best. GAYLE WINTERTON. This very interesting story relates the trials and triumphs of a Young American Actor, including the solution of a very puzzling mystery. Young Actor, The ERNEST A. YOUNG. This book is not a treatise on sports, as the title would indicate, but relates a series of thrilling adventures among boy campers in the woods of Maine. Boats, Bats and Bicycles DAVID McKAY, Publisher, Philadelphia. |
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