THE RAT CRUSADE.

The crusade against rats, begun in Norway a few years ago, is gradually extending over the world. For many months San Francisco has been waging remorseless warfare upon the rodent dwellers of the city, and several hundred thousand of the pests have been destroyed. The persons who are active in directing the slaughter predict that if the other cities of the State can be induced to assist, California can be entirely cleared of rats in the course of a couple of years.

Long ago scientists proved that the rat family is one of the worst enemies of mankind. By nature the rat is an unclean animal, and, dwelling in multitudes as it does, in the most populous parts of cities, it is a constant menace to public health. Microscopic examination of fresh rat hides invariably reveals myriads of disease germs. Almost every contagion known to the medical profession may be communicated, or, rather, is communicated, to persons living in rat-infested neighborhoods.

The methods employed by the San Francisco rat-hunters are simple, inexpensive, and most effective. Traps are being used, but ferrets and terriers are most frequently employed. A ferret is started into the burrow of a rat community, while three or four dogs are kept in leash without. The tiny ferret explores the galleries of the house, sometimes chasing a dozen or more rats into the open. Then begins the work of the dogs. The ferret is a bloodthirsty little creature, and is held in terror by most animals of several times his size. Three or four diminutive ferrets and a half-dozen trained terriers will destroy several hundred rats in a day.

ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT!!

MOTOR STORIES

A New Idea in the Way of Five-Cent Weeklies.

Boys everywhere will be delighted to hear that Street & Smith are now issuing this new five-cent weekly which will be known by the name of MOTOR STORIES.

This weekly is entirely different from anything now being published. It details the astonishing adventures of a young mechanic who owned a motor cycle. Is there a boy who has not longed to possess one of these swift little machines that scud about the roads everywhere throughout the United States? Is there a boy, therefore, who will not be intensely interested in the adventures of "Motor Matt," as he is familiarly called by his comrades?

Boys, you have never read anything half so exciting, half so humorous and entertaining as the first story listed for publication in this line, called "Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel." Its fame is bound to spread like wildfire, causing the biggest demand for the other numbers in this line, that was ever heard of in the history of this class of literature.

Here are the titles to be issued during the next few weeks. Do not fail to place an order for them with your newsdealer.

No. 1. Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel. No. 2. Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends. No. 3. Motor Matt's "Century" Run; or, The Governor's Courier. No. 4. Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the Comet.

32 LARGE SIZE PAGES SPLENDID COLORED COVERS

PRICE, FIVE CENTS PER COPY

AT ALL NEWSDEALERS, OR SENT POSTPAID BY THE PUBLISHERS UPON RECEIPT OF THE PRICE.

STREET & SMITH, Publishers, NEW YORK

NUMBERS 1 TO 396

TIP TOP WEEKLY

ARE CONTAINED IN THE MEDAL LIBRARY

We know that there are thousands of boys who are very much interested in the early adventures of Frank and Dick Merriwell and who want to read everything that was written about them.

We desire to inform these boys that numbers 1 to 396 are pretty well out of print in the TIP TOP WEEKLY, but all of them can be secured in the numbers of the NEW MEDAL LIBRARY given below.

The NEW MEDAL LIBRARY AT FIFTEEN CENTS

150—Frank Merriwell's School-days. 167—Frank Merriwell's Chums. 178—Frank Merriwell's Foes. 184—Frank Merriwell's Trip West. 189—Frank Merriwell Down South. 193—Frank Merriwell's Bravery. 197—Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour. 201—Frank Merriwell in Europe. 205—Frank Merriwell at Yale. 209—Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield. 213—Frank Merriwell's Races. 217—Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour. 225—Frank Merriwell's Courage. 229—Frank Merriwell's Daring. 233—Frank Merriwell's Athletes. 237—Frank Merriwell's Skill. 240—Frank Merriwell's Champions. 244—Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale. 247—Frank Merriwell's Secret. 251—Frank Merriwell's Danger. 254—Frank Merriwell's Loyalty. 258—Frank Merriwell in Camp. 262—Frank Merriwell's Vacation. 267—Frank Merriwell's Cruise. 271—Frank Merriwell's Chase. 276—Frank Merriwell in Maine. 280—Frank Merriwell's Struggle. 284—Frank Merriwell's First Job. 288—Frank Merriwell's Opportunity. 292—Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck. 296—Frank Merriwell's Protégé. 300—Frank Merriwell on the Road. 304—Frank Merriwell's Own Company. 308—Frank Merriwell's Fame. 312—Frank Merriwell's College Chums. 316—Frank Merriwell's Problem. 320—Frank Merriwell's Fortune. 324—Frank Merriwell's New Comedian. 328—Frank Merriwell's Prosperity. 332—Frank Merriwell's Stage Hit. 336—Frank Merriwell's Great Scheme. 340—Frank Merriwell in England. 344—Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards. 348—Frank Merriwell's Duel. 352—Frank Merriwell's Double Shot. 356—Frank Merriwell's Baseball Victories. 359—Frank Merriwell's Confidence. 362—Frank Merriwell's Auto. 365—Frank Merriwell's Fun. 368—Frank Merriwell's Generosity. 371—Frank Merriwell's Tricks. 374—Frank Merriwell's Temptation. 377—Frank Merriwell on Top. 380—Frank Merriwell's Luck. 383—Frank Merriwell's Mascot. 386—Frank Merriwell's Reward. 389—Frank Merriwell's Phantom. 392—Frank Merriwell's Faith. 395—Frank Merriwell's Victories. 398—Frank Merriwell's Iron Nerve. 401—Frank Merriwell in Kentucky. 404—Frank Merriwell's Power. 407—Frank Merriwell's Shrewdness. 410—Frank Merriwell's Set-back. 413—Frank Merriwell's Search. 416—Frank Merriwell's Club. 419—Frank Merriwell's Trust. 422—Frank Merriwell's False Friend. 425—Frank Merriwell's Strong Arm. 428—Frank Merriwell as Coach. 431—Frank Merriwell's Brother. 434—Frank Merriwell's Marvel. 437—Frank Merriwell's Support. 440—Dick Merriwell at Fardale. 443—Dick Merriwell's Glory. 446—Dick Merriwell's Promise. 449—Dick Merriwell's Rescue. 452—Dick Merriwell's Narrow Escape. 455—Dick Merriwell's Racket. 458—Dick Merriwell's Revenge. 461—Dick Merriwell's Ruse. 464—Dick Merriwell's Delivery. 467—Dick Merriwell's Wonders. 470—Frank Merriwell's Honor. 473—Dick Merriwell's Diamond. 476—Frank Merriwell's Winners. 479—Dick Merriwell's Dash. 482—Dick Merriwell's Ability. 485—Dick Merriwell's Trap. 488—Dick Merriwell's Defense. 491—Dick Merriwell's Model. 494—Dick Merriwell's Mystery.

Published About January 5th

497—Frank Merriwell's Backers.

Published About January 26th

500—Dick Merriwell's Backstop.

Published About February 16th

503—Dick Merriwell's Western Mission.

Published About March 9th

506—Frank Merriwell's Rescue.

Published About March 30th

509—Frank Merriwell's Encounter.

Published About April 20th

512—Dick Merriwell's Marked Money.

Published About May 11th

515—Frank Merriwell's Nomads.

Published About June 1st

518—Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron.

Published About June 22nd

521—Dick Merriwell's Disguise.

STREET & SMITH, Publishers, NEW YORK CITY