Frank Merriwell, Junior's, Golden Trail; Or, The Fugitive Professor

s ordered to Arizona. The dry, invigorating climate had worked wonders in thousands of cases similar to the professor's,

southern Arizona. The professor looked up the letter. The writer of it had died years before, and the camp of Happenchance had had its day and was now deserted and lost among the Pic

in the old, lost camp he would recover his health by living the primitive life. Also, bei

of the Picket Posts and to report at length upon anything he might find in the only habitable building of the camp. Aided by a prospector named Nick Porter, Frank and his chums visited Happenchance and t

and did not feel authorized to interfere too much in his affairs. Merry thought it best to go slow in the matter until a reply had been received to the report which he had sent to his father.

e were unscrupulous men in plenty who would not hesitate to take advantage of him with the idea of securing

ssing from Gold Hill, "so you think there's nothing in that dream of

you think is going o

and haven't an id

o come over to his office

run it out to a finish. We've got to be mighty quick about it

shtubs, Pink," grinned Clancy, "an

hat we were to do, or how we're to go about it, bu

y, you're apt to take it for granted that you had a hunch. I'll bet you've had thousands of dreams about things that never happened, and yet

ts, Red," said Ballard solemnly, "but w

d hurried after him. The clubhouse and athletic field were less than a mile from the town of Ophir, a

syndicate that owned the big mine and stamp mill to the south of town. It w

they struck into the main street of the "camp," "and before we interfere too much with

the old boy's in danger, Chip, we can't h

re that he is in any sort of trouble. Just because he can'

red Ballard stoutl

," broke in Frank, "We're dealing with facts

her lazy when circumstances gave him the chance to be, yet he straightened suddenly at Frank's sharp fling at his delusion

king a cigar. He welcomed the lads

aile, Frank?" he asked, coming

stuffed with knowledge-but it's not the sort of knowledge tha

a babe in arms about the way business is done in this day and age of the world. He needs looking after, or some one will get that claim

crossed Merry's face-"when I went out to the Bar Z Ra

rces are at work to swindle him out of his claim, or, perhaps, to get it in some way even more desperate. I don't want to alarm you unnecessarily, but it's the part of wisdom to consider this matter in the worst light possible, and then to go to work alon g

ys at that gave a j

don't have any idea that the harmless

document. Such things have been done. I mention it in this case merely as a possibility. Then, again, we have to consider it as a case of mere swindling The professor, I think, could easily he victimized. My most hopeful view is this: that Borradaile has simply gone off somewh

ew a dee

o the prof's affairs too much,"

ted in going ahead and looki

dlaugh? Go over to Gold Hill and

investigation in mind. I don't suppose you have forgotten Nick Porter, th

began t

his whisky bottle. I suppose he used the fifty dollars Chip paid him to

day after you lads got back from Happenchance, Porter went to Gold Hill. The spree he had there on that fifty has been the talk of

was with us when we came back from Happenchance, and I remember

n all through the Picket Post range and had never found any gold

I believe every man ought to be considered as honest until he proves him

l go over to Gold Hill this very n

re this afternoon, looking a good deal the worse for wear. After supper you can visit the mine an

r the hills while we're

more prospecting. Even if he has the money-which is hardly possi

adlaugh's thoughtfulness wh

id he, "and if Porter knows anything about the profess

dlaugh. "There are a couple of motor cycles at the mine, though, if you find it necessary

dlaugh for the offer,

der man. "How did the boys s

erriwell

troubles he may have fallen into, you'll do your best to give us an eleven t

e in Mr. Bradlaugh

radlaugh," Merry answered;

uced is well qualified to give Ophir a winning eleven. Good luck to you and your friends, Merriwell. Wind tip this busine

ugh the office door, Woo Sing, roustabout Chinaman at the Ophir

entlike face splitting in a wide grin,

ram for me?" d

wered the Chinama

hen, with a long whistle, he returned to put it in

, Care Ophir House, Ophi

ully. Don't let him out of your si

R FA

as he sank back in his chair thoughtf