BOUND TO SUCCEED Or Mail Order Frank’s Chances BY ALLEN CHAPMAN AUTHOR OF “THE HEROES OF THE SCHOOL,” “NED WILDING’S DISAPPEARANCE,” “FRANK ROSCOE’S SECRET,” “FENN MASTERSON’S DISCOVERY,” “BART KEENE’S HUNTING DAYS,” ETC., ETC. [Illustration: The GOLDSMITH Publishing Co. CLEVELAND OHIO MADE IN U.S.A.] COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. WAKING UP 1 II. A FIVE-DOLLAR JOB 11 III. A BUSINESS CALL 19 IV. A BREAK FOR LIBERTY 28 V. THE BALLOONIST’S RESCUE 37 VI. “MAIL ORDER FRANK” 51 VII. STRICTLY BUSINESS 57 VIII. A STEP FORWARD 67 IX. SENSE AND SYSTEM 76 X. A VISIT TO THE CITY 87 XI. A FRIEND IN NEED 99 XII. A BOY WITH A MYSTERY 109 XIII. A GOOD START 117 XIV. A MEAN ENEMY 126 XV. A PIECE OF CHALK 133 XVI. “FRANK’S MAIL ORDER HOUSE” 143 XVII. A NEST EGG 153 XVIII. A SUSPICIOUS VISITOR 162 XIX. MISSING 169 XX. A BAD BUSINESS 176 XXI. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 185 XXII. GOOD NEWS 194 XXIII. A RIVAL CONCERN 200 XXIV. AN UNWELCOME VISITOR 206 XXV. TROUBLE BREWING 213 XXVI. MYSTERIOUS STET 219 XXVII. THE POST-OFFICE INSPECTOR 225 XXVIII. A HEART OF GOLD 232 XXIX. CONCLUSION 237 BOUND TO SUCCEED CHAPTER I WAKING UP “Mother, I must do something, and that right quickly.” It was Frank Newton who was talking. His voice was composed, but determined. His face was calm, but there was a resolute look in his eyes. It told that under the surface some unusual emotion was stirring Frank. “I don’t see how you can do any more than you are doing now,” responded his mother with an anxious sigh. “Of course it seems hard to get along with so little when we have been used to having so much. But, oh, Frank, when I think of what was once--you away, I knew not where, and my heart breaking to find out--I am grateful and happy, and so very proud of you, my dear, dear boy.” Frank’s lip quivered at the fervent words spoken. They inspired him with their eloquence. His hand trembled as it rested on his mother’s arm gently and lovingly. “It’s worth everything to have you talk that way, mother,” he said in quite a husky voice, “and kind words and good opinion just makes me the more resolved to better things.” “Don’t be ungrateful or complaining, my boy.” “It’s never that, mother.”