yard and his eye fell on an empty dog house. It made Frank feel lonesome and worried to realize that its former tenant, the dog, Christmas, was missing.
The faithful animal, a veritable chum to Frank, had disappeared one night. Frank had spent two days looking for him with no results.
Christmas was a connecting link between the present and a very vivid section of the past in Frank Newton's experience. The thought of this instantly sent Frank's mind drifting among the vital and exciting incidents in that career.
Frank was a peculiar boy. He had great sturdiness of character, what some people call "nerve," and up to two years before our story begins had led a happy, joyous existence. He had been an active spirit, and always a leader in boyish sports and fun.
It had been a black day for Frank when his mother had married Ismond. Too late Mrs. Newton had learned that she had wedded a fortune-hunter. Too soon Frank discovered that the miserable schemer planned to drive him away from home, so he might more easily rob the lad's mother of her fortune.
Frank stood Ismond's abuse just as long as he could. Then he ran away from home.
At first he followed a circus, tired of it, and got a
