232 51 - CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY J Read "Pawnee Bill and Jesse James," in No. 174 of this Library. Fhitpred Accordimj to Acl of Connr'"!S, in thf Year 189!!. ht/ Rtvpft .i- Siinith, in the Office of (lie lAhrni lan of i^'onqyttR. Waffhins^on, D. C las Secondclass Matter in tli€ New York. X. r.. Post OlTlce. March 7, IS^e. Issued Weekly. Subsci iption rrtce. i2 M per Year. MarchT, li»S. h. 175. SritniiT A Smitfi, Pulilisliera. NEW YORK. 29 Ruse St.,N. Y. 5 Cents. Diamond Dick, Jr.'s Call Down Or, THE KING OF THE SILVER BOX. f BY V^r. B. L^VV^SOKT. PS 2232.189057"'^"'^''''"^' ^ Diamond Dick, Jr.'s call down; or The k •YOU SAY YOU ARE DIAMOND DICK, JR., AND I SAY IT IS FALSE. I AM DIAMOND DICK, JR." A i' DIAMOND DICK LIBRARY. No. 176. Dlamoiiil Diet, Jp.'s Call Mm; OR, The King of the Silver Box. By W. B. LAWSON. CHAPTER I. THE PRmCE OF SPORTS AND HIS VICTIM. "By George! He's coppered the queen!" "Whftfafool!" The young fellow who had made the bet, however, ■watched the run of the cards witt a passive eye. Flip, flip! Had he played the queen in the box, he would have won. As it was, he lost. "One more chance," he muttered, as he turned away. "I must make a winning or — or blow my brains out, one or the other." The above scene took place in one of the fifty-nine saloons and gambling-dens that run "wide open" in the town -of Cripple Creek. A young fellow, scarcely more than five-and-twenty, had been playing at the faro-table. His name was Joe Evans, and he was cashier of one of "the city banks. The faro-dealer was a handsome man of thirty or thirty- five. That he was an adept in his professional line was plainly to be seen, for his long, slender fingers manipulated the •cards with a proficiency that could only come from life- long practice. When the bottom had dropped out of things at the silver camp of Creede, Felipe Ortego, otherwise known as the "Spanish Don," had come to Cripple Creek with his faro lay-out. He was the Prince of Sports and known throughout the «outh-west as the King of the Silver Box. For some time the Don had had his eye on Evans. When the young fellow turned away Ortego spoke a few words to a man at his elbow and left his chair, the other taking his place. Evans' last words had caught the Don's ear, and a sud- den gleam of satisfaction had passed through the wily Spaniard's eyes. Walking to the poker-table, the cashier paid out his last dollar for chips. Behind him stood the Don, watching his every move- ment. The play progressed with indifferent success to Evans. At liist a "jack pot" was developed. Around and around went the deal, no one finding ■opfners. The pot grew to prodigious proportions, for in that game the limit was the ceiling — no less. Four players were in the game, and one of them finally opened. Evans had absolulely nothing to come in with. He was in despair. "Do you want to win?" The Don leaned forward and whispered these words in "the .young man 's ear. "It's a matter of life or death to me I" was the hoarse reply. "I can take that hand and capture the pot." "Impossible!" "I will do it." "You will?" "Providing you will do whatever I may ask you in casa I succeed and give you the winnings." "It's a bargain." "You swear it?" "Yes." "Very well." Then.aloud, to the rest of the players, the t)on addressed himself: "This young man is green at the game. He has much money at stake, and I propose to take his hand and play it. You all know me to be a square, eighteen-carat sport. Are you agreed that I oome in?" He swejit his eyes around the table as he spoke. The remaining three players nodded, and Don sank into the cashier's chair. The pot was opened for the size of it. The spectators were breathless with exoitepient. Great games were not phenomenal in Cripple Creek, but this pot was a little the largest that had ever been played for, in the history of the camp. The Don was as cool as a summer's evening and calmly met the first man's bet and was ready to draw cards. Three only remained. The dealer picked up the pack and dealt one card to the man on his left. "Give me one card," said the Don. The card was dealt, but it fell face up. It was a, heart. "I'll take that card," said the Don. "No, you don't, " said the dealer, laying his hand over the bit of pasteboard; "by all the rules that card is out of the game." "You dealt it that way purposely to discover the strength of my hand. " A nasty look came into the dealer's face. Both men drew revolvers and laid them on the table. "You can't play that card," said the dealer, decisively; "you'll have to play the next one." "Look you," cried the Don, passionately, "I have the right to call for the next card face up. If it is a heart, we play the game; if it is any other card, we fight." Would the game be finished, or would there be a resort to the duell"? The crowd was in an agony of suspense. The second card was dealt face up. It proved to be a heart. A long sigh of relief went up from the spectators. The Don picked up his heart, and the game proceeded. The supposition was that the Don had filled his flu.sh. The first player showed his openers find dropped out. The Don laid a crisp one thousand dollar bank-note in the pot. "It's yours," said the dealer, throwing down his hand. The Don gave a short laugh and laid his hand, face up, on the table. Four clubs and a heart ! A mighty yell went up from the crowd. The King of the Silver Box had worked a successful bluff against three of the oldest P9ker players in town. »»•"»■ DIAMOND DICK LIBRARY. "You took long chances," said the dealer. "Suppose just succeeded in railroading into San Quentin,* was my that second card had not been a heart?" pard. If you want to fight out our differences according "I knew it would be " to the code, I'm a fancy shot and a handy swordsman and _, _, ,,.,'... , . , ^, will accommodate you either way. If you haven't sand The Don raked m his winnings and got up from the enough for this proceeding, you had better hunt your hole, table. for I'll copper every dodge you try to play in Colorado. As he moved away he motioned to Evans, who followed ; "The Kino of the Silver Box, him. "Here," said the Don, "put this stuff away." "That was a magnificent bluff," said the' cashier. "It won, and that was the main thing," replied the An angry light burned in Bertie's eyes as he perused this insulting note. Then he turned to Handsome Harry. ,..,, „ , . , .. „ "This is a case of gratuitous insult. This impudent cur gambler.^^ You are all ready to do something for me now, ^^„ ^^^^ ^.^^^^^ ^^^ ^-j^^ ^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^ B^^ .^ .^ ^^^^ ^^ **"f.£°"^",, a good licking, and he's bound to get it." _,",,, ' "He'll find that he has run head on inter a barb-wire The Don looked hastily around. , ,_ ^ , fence, " said Handsome Harry, with a grin that plainly 'We must converse privately, " he said. "Ah. there s evidenced his delight at the prospect of immediate trouble. the telephone-box. We'll shut ourselves up in there. This ..you've got somethin' fer me ter do, me son-I kin see it way, Evans. stickin' right out of yer eye." They did not see the tall, herculean form that passed ..T^is note is written on paper that bears the card of the out of the box just before they went in. Colonel's Own. Do you know where to find this saloon Otherwise the Don might have thought better of his and gambling-joint?" I "I could go to it blindfolded." I "Go there and see if this gambler is still at the place. If he is, I'll come down and play at his table." I "While I'm comin' back ter tell ye he's thar, he may WBAT DIAMOND DICK, JR., HEARD OVER THE 'PHONK. .take a tumble an' git up an' dust." ' j "There's a telephone at the Colonel's Own. " "Bertie, me son, thar's a man in this yere festive town that calls himself the Prince of Sports." "Cripple Creek is full of sports." "Right ye air, but this pertickler hombre is better known as the King of the Silver Box." Bertie Wade, otherwise known as Diamond Dick, Jr., determination. CHAPTER II. "So tharis." "And there's another one hero." "Toby sure." "Then call me up, tell me the gambler is there, and I'll be at the place in five minutes." "Keno!" and his invincible old partner. Handsome Harry; the Handsome Harry bolted through the door, and Bertie Serpent of Siskiyou, were conversing in the ofiSce of the took a chair near the telephone, iotel in Cripple Creek. j Then he waited. At his companion's second remark Diamond Dick, Jr., | piye minutes— ten minutes— fifteen minutes passed, .and looked up in surprise. . still no ring. "Why, he's the fellow who swears he'll cut my eye , Just as the youth began to grow anxious the bell teeth for me." jingled, and he sprang to the receiver. "K'rect, me son," chuckled Handsome Harry, "an' he "Hello!" further says that he's dead hungry fer the chance ter be "Is that you, Bertie?" at it." I It was Handsome Harry's voice, and he spoke in a "Ah," replied the youth, quietly, "I'd like very much quick, hoarse whisper. to give him a rub for his money. " | " Yes, " replied Bertie. "Is the gambler there?" "A rub against the grain, hey? Dashed if this tork don't i "You bet; big as life." set my rattles ter buzzin'. Reckon we an't never goin' ter find 'the chap that shoved that counterfeit bill off on ye, Bertie." "Good! I'll come right down. "No, ye don't." "Why? What's the matter?" "Look here, Harry. Did we ever set out to find a man "Keep yer ear glued to that air rubber dingus on th« of that kind and fail to do it?" end of the thingumbob an' listen fer yer life." "Not that I kin remember." "What's up?" "All right, then. We'll find this counterfeiter, too; No answer was returned to Bertie's question, mark my words. " j The youth heard the receiver drop at the other end of "He's pretty slick at the business." the line and the door of the telephone-box click shut. "So he is, but I've found out several things He counter- A moment later the door of the box opened, and he feits nothing but twenty-dollar bills, and they are all hoard a voice say : numbered exactly the same. " ,, I "This telephone-box is just the place, Evans. It's dark At this juncture a boy stepped up to Bertie. in here, and none of that infernal gang outside can hear "Is this Diamond Dick Jr.?" us." ^ "You've culled the turn, my boy. What is it?" | "What are you bringing me in here for?" queried a "A messa'TO. " second voice. "You won that pob by one of the slickest Bertie hastily tore open the envelope, drew out the bluffs I ever.saw played. You've saved me from ruin and folded sheet, and read as follows: — - ^^ ^^,^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^,^ sdvenU^res while mnninR down the notnrinns Blno.k Jiruce, tlie reader is referred to Diamond Diclc LibrarV, "Diamond Dick, Jr. : — This country ian t big enough for No. 173, "Diamond Dick, Jr. 'a Written lieoeipt; or, The Wysterj- of both of us. Black Bruce, of New Mexico, whom you have Cusa Grande." DIAMOND DICK LIBRARY. Ho ITS. disgrace, and I have promised tx) do something for yon, but why is it necessary to bring me in here to tell me 'what I am to do?" "You're green, Evans, awfully green," was the sneering answer. "I suppose I am; but that doesn't signify that I was born yesterday. " "No, you must have been born on Friday, you're so confoundedly unlucky. But to come down to business. Can you get a week's lay-off?" "Yes." "Then. get it. Let it begin to-morrow." "What am I to do?" "Do you know of a young lady named Miss Bicknell?" "She's the niece of the president of the bankl" "Exactly I And she's coming West to juggle with the gold stocks as so many other crazy folks are doing. But tha«; isn't all. You're engaged to be married to this Miss Bicknell." "How do you know that?" "That makes no difference to you. The young lady in question is rather peculiar. She's bringing a good bit of money with her, but it's all in the form of diamonds." "Well?" "She is to get here to-morrow, and you must meet her at the train." "I had intended to do that anyway." "You must not take her to her uncle's, but to the ad- dress on this card which I now give you." "What do you intend doing?" "That's nothing to you. You bring the girl there. " "Do you take me for a cold-blooded scoundrel? I'll do nothing of the kind." "Yes, you will." "Do you think that I will deliver Miss Bicknell into your hands?" "I know it; for either you will do that, or I shall go to the president of the bank and tell him that he has a de- faulter for a cashier. The ruin and disgrace you speak about will be brought upon you, and your engagement to marry Miss Bicknell will be declared off." ' ' My God ! It is not possible that you would do anything of that kind?" "This is no time to indulge in sentiment. I would do it, for that's precisely the kind of a man I am. The girl shall not be injured — I pledge you my word. Will you meet her at the train to-morrow and do as I have told you. ' ' There was a brief silence. "Yes," was the final reply; "you have me in your clutches, and I can do nothing else." "Now you're acting in a sensible way. Keiep a still tongue in your head, and you'll never regret giving me your assistance." Here the conversation ceased. The door of the telephone-box was opened and closed again, and Bertie, understanding that the two men had left, hung up the receiver and turned away. "Wall," said a voice at his elbow, "what do ye think of it?" It was Handsome Harry. "Where did you come from?" "From the Colonel's Own." " How did you manage to put me onto that conversa- tion?" "[ saw the gambler foolin' with young Evans, the cashier, an' I knew he was doin' it fer a purpose. I wanted ter find out what that purpose was, so when I called ye up those two fellers was headed fer the tele- phone-box, an' I jest left the receiver hangin' so's ye could hear the hull conversation. Crooked work on hand, an't there?" "I should say so." Bertie thereupon told his old partner the substance of what he had overheard. Handsome Harry gave a long whistle. "What's the gambler's object, d'ye s'pose?" "He's after Miss Bicknell's diamonds, and here's where I begin to call him down. ' ' "How are you goin' ter do it?" "You'll have to help me." "What am I ter do?" "The first thing in the morning I want you to go to th» bank where voung Evans works and' sf e the president, Bicknell. Tell him that he must wire his niece not to leave Denver for Cripple Creek until the next day, and that she mustn't bring her diamonds with her, but bring- paste duplicates." "Ah, ha!" chuckled the Calif ornian; "young Evans'U go to the train to meet the gal, an' she won't be thar." "Yes, she will." "She kain't be in two places to oncet, kin afee?" "No," and Bertie leaned forward and whispered a few words in his companion's ear. "Bully!" said Handsome Harry, with a broad grin. "We'll fix the King of the Silver Box in great shape. Shall I tell the bank officials anything about Evans?" "Not a word. That young fellow has got a wrong start, but we'll pull him out of the gambler's clutches and set him right. Now, then, let's go to bed, for we've got warm, work ahead of us for to-morrow. " CHAPTER III. HOT TIMES IN THE GOLD CAMP. On the afternoon of the day following that in which Bertie and Handsome Harry had had their talk in the hotel the Denver train came thundering up to the Cripple .Creek depot. Miners, mine owners, confidence men, teamsters; and merchants got out of the coaches, and among them was a solitary woman, closely vailed, but of aristocratic dresa and figure. Joe Evans, pallid of face and nervous of manner, was waiting on the platform. He gave one look at tjie woman, and an expression of relief came over his face, and he turned away. The woman, however, made straight for him and caught him by the arm. "You're Mr. Evans?" she queried. "Yes." "You're waiting to meet Miss Bicknell?" "That's what I eame for." "Well, I'm the lady." Miss Bicknell had' a decidedly masculine voice for a woman. "You're not the Miss Bicknell I came to meet." "Look here, Evans," said thewoman, "I know all about this deal. Miss Bicknell was wired this morning to remain in Denver and not come on until to-morrow. I want you to steer me into the hands of this gambler who calls him- self the King of the Silver Box.'"' "Good heavens!" gasped Evans. "Is it possible that you know all?" "Yes, and I'm going to save you from the devilish de- signs of this gambler. Keep a stiff upper lip and do as I tell you. Get a carriage land take me to the place where the gambler was to have you take Miss Bicknell." "But you — you are a woman " "Don't you be too sure of that. Get the carriage." Greatly mystified, Evans went away and shortly came back with a cab, into which he assisted "Miss Bioknelli" instructed the driver where to go, and then got in himself. Along the back streets of the town they were whirled and finally came to a halt before a small, dingy-looking brick building bearing the sign, ' ' Crump & Hyde, Assay- ers. ' ' "This is the place," said Evans. "All right," replied the woman with the masculine voice; "you drive off, and I will walk up to the door and see the matinee through." . The woman descended and advanced to the door, knock- ing emphatically oti the oaken panels. She was admitted at once into a large bare room. It was Felipe Ortego himself who had answered the summons. "Miss Bicknell?" he queried. The woman's voice had more of a feminine twist to it as she answered: "Well, sir, what if I am Miss Bicknell?" "My name is Crump, of the firm of Crump & Hyde. I No. ITC. DIAMOND DICK LIBRARY. xinderstand that you have some diamonds which, -will shortly be for sale and " "That's a lie out of -whole cloth!" As the supposed woman said this she stepped out of her female disguise and confronted the gambler, revolvers in hand. "My name is Diamond Dick, Jr., and you have a chance to meet me now, according to the code, or in any other way. I have balked your little game, and I am now ready to wipe out the insult you offered me last night. " The Don recoiled in consternation for a moment, and then a black scowl came over his face, and a light of anger darted from his eyes. ,"You must be the devil himself. Diamond Dick, Jr., to be able to foil me in this way. But you have made a fool of yourself, for you have run your neck directly into the noose " "This i" no time for trifling. If you are not a braggart .and a coward, draw and defend yourself." Noiselessly as though it worked on hinges of rubber a door opened behind Diamoad Dick, Jr., and two men crept like serpents into the room. Quick of hearing though the youth was, his ears yet failed to inform him of the entrance of these two men. "You are bound to fight me, are you?" asked the Don, allowirfg his hand to wander in the direction of his hip- pocket. "You say Colorado is not big enough for bc5th of us," replied Bertie, coolly, "and I intend to remain here for some time." At that moment, in response to an almost imperceptible sign from the Don, the two men sprang upon Bertie from behind and bore him to the floor. The youth struggled desperately, but his strength availed little against that of the two desperadoes who held him. In a few moments he was bound securely and lying helpless at the Don's feet. "Right you are," said the Don, sarcastically. "You will remain in Colorado for some time, but your stay here won't bother me any, I'll see that you're taken care of. You thought I was playing this job single-handed, did you?" Bertie cast his eyes over the two men who had assaulted him. Both had their sleeves rolled up to their elbows and wore long aprons that were plentifully smeared with printer's ink. Bertie thought this a strange condition for two men in an assayer's office. "I have balked your designs upon Miss Bicknell, at any rate," said he. "At the expense of your own life," replied the gambler, -with a shrug of the shoulders. "You shall pay dearly for what you have done. Diamond Dick, Jr." "That remains to be seen," said Bertie, coolly. The Don motioned to the two men, and they withdrew through the door by which they had so silently entered. Then, without another word, Ortego left the room through the front entrance, locking the door carefully be- hind him. , ,, r , ■ -. ■, Left to himself, Bertie tried the strength of his bonds and found that to release himself from them was out of the question. , , ,, , , .-, „ Kolling over and over until ie reached the board sides of the room, he began pounding upon the wall with his feet in hopes that the sound would attract the attention of some passer-by. At the third kick a singular thing happened. A section of the board wall, sonae three feet square, gave wav, and, as it dropped into the room, a bank-note fluttered down with it and dropped on the floor but a few feet from the spot where Bertie was lying. , , , , ^ "Great Caesar!" exclaimed the youth, as he looked at At that moment he heard a hand trying the knob of the door and he managed, bound as he was, to get the section of wall back into place and to throw himself over the bill. Some one was working at the lock. Who could it be? , , . For ten minutes longer at least the tampering with the lock continued, and then the door opened and Handsome Harry stepped into the room. "Wall, by thunder!" he exclaimed. "You don't look as though you'd had much of a picnic, me son." "The sight of you is good for sore eyes, " said Bertie. "I wouldn't have missed what I've gone through for a jcool thousand. Here — cut me loose. I've got something to show you." Handsome Harry lost no time in freeing his friend. "So this is an assay office, is it?" "Not by a long shot! It's a plant for turning out queer money, and the assay business is only a blind." "What d'ye mean, Bertie?" "Look at this bill." Bertie handed to his friend the bank-note that had dropped down with the section of the wall. "Why, it's counterfeit! It's the same bill ye got at the hotel yesterday." "It's not the same bill, Harry, although it is identical with the counterfeit I had passed on me. It's a strange coincidence, but I'm positive the Don is the author of those twenty-dollar bills." "A counterfeiter, hey?" "No doubt of it." "Then yere's yer chance to operate yer great call-down with blue fire an' all the extra trimmin's." "That's just what I intend to do." "But whar's the Don's plant?" "Out through that door," replied Bertie, pointing to the door behind him through which the two men had entered and taken him by surprise. The youth now began to understand why it was that those white aprons were smeared with printers' ink. "If that door leads to anythin' we want ter see, we'll just go through it." The Californian started for the door, but Bertie laid a restraining hand on his arm. "Hold up, Harry. Let's investigate this part of the lay- out first." "I don't see anythin' ter investigate yere." Bertie walked to the wall and removed the false section, revealing the cupboard behind it. "That's where that twenty-dollar bill came from," said Diamond Dick, Jr. "An' thar's a pile of the stuff," cried Handsome Harry, making a dive at a bundle of the bills. The bundle was about six inches deep and appeared to be fastened together with two rubber bands, one at either end. As the Serpent of Siskiyou picked up the bank-notes he paused a moment and weighed them carefully in his hand. "What's the matter, Harry?" queried Bertie. "I'll be hornswiggled if this j^ere bunch of the long green doesn't weigh as much as a chunk of lead." Handsome Harry thereupon gave the supposed bundle of bills a closer examination. "Why," he exclaimed, "thar's only two bank-notes in this hull pack, one on the top, an t'other on the bottom ! It's a box, that's what it is, got up ter look like a passel of money." "Perhaps he uses that in some way in working the grangers." "That's his game, sure enough; but durned if I wouldn't " Handsome Harry was interrupted by a loud buzzing sound that came from the interior of the box he was holding. "Now what ther blazes do ye reckon that is?" Bertie leaped forward, dashed the box from his friend's hand, and dragged him back to the farther wall of the building. "Dash it, boy! What did ye do that fer?" Almost as soon as asked, Handsome Harry's question was answered. There came a tremendous explosion, followed by a crash of bricks and other debris, and the interior of the room was full of smoke in an instant. That supposed bundle of bills was nothing but an infer- nal machine. Bertie had divined its nature just in time to save the lives of himself and his companion. DIAMOND DICK LTBllAUY. No. 178. "Wow!" cried Handsome Harry. "Was that a year th- qu.ikeV" "Are you hurt?" cried Bertie. "Not a .scratch ; but I've got erbout a ton of plaster in my rii^ht pei'iier." "Never mind the plaster; come this vv^ay." Making his way to his friend's side, Bertie caught him by tlie arm and then groped along through the smoke nntil he reached the opposite wall. As he had surmisecl, the brick-work had been torn away, loaving a breacli through which he and Handsome Harry easily made their exit. Tlie sound of the explosion had attracted numbers of people, who were hurrying rapidly to the spot. "It is better for us not to be identified with that blow- up," said Bertie, "so let's get out of the way." "Keno, me son. Set the pace, an' I'll foller. " Bertie made his way hurriedly into another street and finally came to a halt. "I guess we're safe now," he muttered. "Thar was lots of ginger in that bunch of twenties, eh, Bertie?" "Yes. It was a clever scheme of the Don's. " "I don't see the scheme." "If that secret cupboard in the wall was ever found by the authorities, that infernal machine would explode and destroy all traces of his guilt. " "Ah! Nowlsabe." "I venture to say that all the Don's paraphernalia for manufacturing this counterfeit money has been annihil- ated." "Then we haven't got a case against him?" "We'll make a case against him — don't worrv about- that." "Hello! Thar's a couple of flgger-heads on t'oter side of the street that evidently want ter pass the time o' day with us." Handsome Harry pointed to two men who were hurry- ing toward them. The strangers carried their hands on their hip-pockets, and Bertie frowned slightly as he took notice of this hostile movement. "They're evidently dead set on seeing us," said the youth, "and we might as well stop and give thejn a chance." The two men rapidly approached and placed themselves in front of Bertie and Handsome Harry. "Is your name Wade?" asked one of the men, address- ing our hero. "It is." "Then, Bertie Wade, otherwise Diamond Dick, Jr., I arrest you in the name of the United States Government." Handsome Harry was overwhelmed with surprise. "Arrest me?" gasped Bertie; "what for?" "For passing counterfeit money; in other words, for shoving the queer. ' ' CHAPTER IV. DIAMOND DICK, JR., DOES A LITTLE WARM WORK. "Shoving the queer?" echoed Bertie, blankly. "Yes." "Git out, you yaller-faced Dutchman!" growled Hand- some Harry. "I've got a whalin' big notion ter punch yer head." "JK ■either of you try to resist us, it will be the worse for you." "Go chase yerself ! Yer on the wrong track entirely. " "Shut up, Harry, " said Bertie; "let me have a chance to talk with these men. There's some mistake, and I want to explain it. When was I guilty of passing counterfeit money?" "Not over fifteen minutes ago." "Where?" "At Burke's saloon." "Yer another!" put in Handsome Harry. "Fifteen min- utes ago he wasn't within a mile of Burke's saloon." "I can prove an alibi very readily on that count in the indictment," added Bertie. "I can't help that," replied the officer; "I'm here to arrest you. Will you go along peaceably?" "Wait, " said tlie youth; "let's see if this matter isn't capable of explanation." "You'll have all the chances to explain that you want, but now you must come along with me." "But while I'm wasting time going alofig with you the fellow that is really passing this counterfeit money is making good his escape." "I can't help that." "Say the word, Bertie," said Handsome Harry, "an' I'll crack their heads together." "Don't do anything of the kind, " said Bertie. "If I'm not mistaken, here comes a man now who can solve the mystery." "Who is it?" queried the officer; "Joe Evans?" "Yes. Do you know him?" The officer nodded. "So much the better," said the youth, with considerable satisfaction. Evans at last drew near and was about to pass. "Hello, Summers," he said, nodding to the officer. "Hold up, Evans," said Bertie. At the sound of our hero's voice Evans paused and gave him a quick look. "Don't you know me?" queried Diamond Dick, Jr. The cashier shook his head. "Your voice sounds familiar, but I don't remember! ever having seen you before." "Do you remember the lady that came in on the train a| while ago and was left at the assayer's officer"' "Do you m^an to say that you " "Exactly! My name's Diamond Dick, Jr." The cashier extended his hand, and Bertie caught it and gave it a hearty shake. , "You did me a good turn. Diamond Dick, Jr., and I'm obliged to you for it. But how does it come that I find you with Summers?" "He has just arrested me for passing counterfeit money. '* "What?" Bertie repeated his words. "Summers," said Evans, turning to the officer, "you never made a bigger mistake in your life." "I can't help that. Tom Burke swore up and down that Diamond Dick, Jr., came into his place and worked off on him a bad twenty-dollar bill. Here it is. You're a cashier and can tell at a glance that the note is bogus." Summers produced the money and passed it to Evans. "It's counterfeit, that's a fact," said Evans, "but it doesn't necessarily fpllow that Diamond Dick, Jr., passed the bill because Tom Burke says so. You mav thank your lucky stars that I've got you out of a bad scrape. Sum- mers. Step this way, Mr. Wade. I want a word with you." Bertie stepped to the edge of the sidewalk with the cashier, and they passed a few words in private. They finally rejoined the two officers and Handsome Harry. "Now," said Evans, "I've told Diamond Dick, Jr., how he can convince youbeyond all doubt, that he is innocent of any wrong-doing, and you will do well to go with him." The cashier hurried off down the street. "I don't like this, " grumbled Summers. "What am I ixy do?" "You're to come with me, " replied Bertie "Where?" "To the Lost Pocket saloon." 'What are we going to do there?" "I'll shOfw you later." "You might as well smile an' look pleasant, ole hoss, " put in Handsome Harry. "Well,'' said Summers, "I'll go with you, but I can't see what good it s going to do." Turning about, they pnjeeeded hastily along the street Ten minutes' walk brought them to their destination, and Handsome Harry was about to enter the door when. Bertie stopped him. "Not that way, Harry." "What do ye mean, me son?" "We'll go in by' the back door." "Good! I begin to sabe yer plan." «0. 17S DIAMOND DICK LIBRARY. Making a detour around the building, they entered it from the rear. In front of them, as they came into the room, was a pile of beer kegs. "This is good enough for us, " said Bertie; "we'll stay behind here and keep an eye on proceedings." "Snakes afi' centipedes, Bertie!" whispered Handsome Harry, excitedly, "thar's a chap with sparks enough on his clothes to open a three-ball establishment." Bertie looked out between the kegs and saw the Don, who had got himself up in a Mexican costume that fairly glittered with brilliants. "They're paste," said Bertie. "Keep your eye on that fellow, Summers, and hear what he's got to say." At that instant the Don pushed his way to the bar. "You've all heard of me, gents," he cried; "I'm Dia- mond Dick, Jr., the Little Thunderbolt, an' I've got a record in the south-west to back up my claim that I'm the biggest man of my size in the State." "You bet you have!" cried some of the crowd. "Yer chain lightnin', that's what ye are!" "Hooray fer Diamond Dick, Jr. !" "Step up, boys, an' nominate your pizen. As long as Bertie Wade has a dollar he spends it with the boys!" With loud yells and maudlin shouts, the men in the saloon crowded aga'nst the bar, and for a few moments the liquor flew right and left. When the Don settled his bill he did it with one of his bogus twenty-dollar notes. "What do you think of that. Summers?" "I think Evans was right," replied the officer; "I've made a big mistake. " "Do you know the fellow?*' "Yes; he's the Spanish Don, King of the Silver Box." "He has rigged himself up in imitation of myself and is using my name while passing his spurious money." "It's a bad thing for you." "I propose to stop it right here." Just then the Don ordered another round of drinks. "Who says I'm not the cock of the walk?" he shouted, shaking a handful of bogus money above his head. "Who says that Diamond Dick, Jr., isn't one of the finest?" "I do!" It was Bertie who spoke. Leaping over the barricade of kegs, he confronted the King of the Silver Box. The youth's sudden advent was startling to the gambler, who turned upon him and angrily shouted : "You throw the lie in my teeth, do you?". "You say you are Diamond Dick, Jr., and I say it is false. I am Diamond Dick, Jr., myself." ^^ "Perhaps you can convince these men that I am lying, sneered the gambler. ^ . -j: j.u x. "I have no desire to convince them, but ir tne bar- keeper will take a second look at the twenty-dollar bills you have been giving him, he will discover that they are counterfeit." „ , „ , . i * A sudden pallor swept over the Don's face, but only tor a moment. , ., , „ , ■■ ji_ "Tnose bills are as good as gold," he affirmed, doggedly. The gambler's hand was steadily creeping toward his hip-pocket, and DiamonjJ Dick, Jr., watched the move with the eye of a hawk. He knew the gambler was about to make some desperate play, but just what it was the youth had no means of knowing^^^ my turn to call you a liar, " said Summers, starting forward. "Who the nation are you? . "I'm a United States detective, and I arrest you m the name of the Government. " "For what?" "Shoving the queer." "If you want me, old man, you'll have to take me. As the Don spoke he drew his revolver. He did not point the weapon at any one about him, however, but aimed it at the opposite wall. Quick as a flash Diamond Dick, Jr. 's eyes followed the ^^SSdJctr™' lights in the Lost Pocket were turned on and off by means of two rubber buttons attached to the wall, high enough up so that they could not be reached by any drunken reveller who might take it into his head to turn off the lights. Crack 1 Instantly the saloon was plunged in darkness, for the Prince of Sports had struck with his bullet the button that turned off the electric current. It was a magnificent shot. "There, Diamond Dick, Jr.," shouted the Don, "if you can do better than that, I'll admit that there's a chance of your calling me down. " From the moment his gaze had first rested on the rubber buttons Diamond Dick, Jr., had never taken his eyes off them. Even when the lights went out, he still kept his eyes fixed on that one particular spot on the wall. Quickly drawing his revolver, he leveled it. « A moment later he fired, and the electric fluid «ped to the carbon points, and the Lost Pocket was again illu- minated. For an instant all was silence ; and then Diamond Dick, Jr., calmly remarked: "Which was the better shot? The Don turned off the lights with the light to aid him. I turned them on in the darkness." "Little Thunderbolt, the Wizard of the Derringer!" shouted Handsome Harry. "The finest shot ever made in Colorado!" echoed Sum- mers. "Diming Dick, Jr., kain't be touched for fancy shoot- in'." "I believe you. But where's the Don?' ■ The King of the Silver Box had taken advantage of the momentary spell of darkness and had disappearad. "That's what I expected," said Bertie. A search high and low about the place failed to reveal the gambler's presence. "I reckon we've muffed him," growled the officer. "Never mind," said Bertie; "I'll help you capture him. His time is short — ^take my word for it. " "It will be long enough when he's once inside the pen," grimly replied Summers. "Are you convinced?" queried the youth. "Convinced of what?" "That I did not pass those bogus bills. " "Say no more about that. As I said before, I made a big mistake." "Then I need not consider myself under arrest?" "I should say not.'" Just at that moment some one tapped Bertie c-n the shoulder. It was Evans. "What can I do for you, Evans?" asked our hero. "Step this way. I've got something I want to show you." "Privately?" "You may bring your friend." Calling to Handsome Harry, the three passed out intO" the night. "Where are you goiqg to take us?" asked Diamond Dick, Jr., as the cashier walked rapidly down the street. "To the place where I have my lodgings. It is only a short distance from here." "All right; lead off." Placing himself in the lead, the cashier hurried along, and in a very few minutes they were all in his room, seated comfortably and waiting for him to proceed with his information. "You got me out of a bad scrape to-day. Diamond Dick, Jr., and I am anxious to render you a service, " began Evans, slowly. . „ ,- -, "You have already rendered me a service, replied Bertie. "However that may be, I do not consider that I have offset the obligation I am under to you, and I am going to do something more. Your attetnpt to catch the Don at the Lost Pocket was a failure, wasn't it?" "Yes." "I think I can put you onto a scheme by which you can run him to earth in mighty short order, and you can do 8 DIAMOND DICK LIBRARY, Mo. 1TB. «his, mind you, with incriminating evidence right on him." "That's the kind of talk I'm glad to listen to." "Very well, then, I'll jiroceed. " Divinf; into his pocket, the cashier drew out a circular, and handed it to Bertie. "Read tliat." Bertie did .so and smiled as he handed the paper back. "The greon-fjoods game." "Old, isn't ity" "Oldastheliills." "Well, it was a new one on me." "When a, sucker bites, he pays in his good money and gets — sawdust. " "Then this job, I think, is a variation, for I believe the Don intends trading his counterfeits for good United Stntea money." ' "How did you happen to get hold of that circular?" "Throui?h a relative of mine who lives in the country." "The Don sent it to him?" "That's the supposition." "How d'ye know?" broke in Handsome Harry. "See here, Harry," said Bertie; "the circular is signed, O. R. Tego. ' Now, the Don's real name is Felipe Ortego, and he's taking long chances with such a clumsy dis- gui.sie. " "I see," returned the Californian. Bertie turned to Evans. "And your relative came on here to take a block of the Don's bogus money?" "Yes, I'm sorry to say. Luckily he first called or. me. I detected from his actions that he was up to something out of the common, and I pressed him so hard that he finally told me all about it. I persuaded him to go back home." "He was to meet the Don and consummate the transac- tions?" "Yes." "When?" "To-morrow morning at eight o'clock." "Where?" "At the old Spitzer prospect hole. Do you know where that is?" Bertie nodded. "The instant I clapped my eyes onto that circular I thought it would be a good chance for you to work a scheme." "What kind of a scheme, Evans?" "You're a pretty good hand at disguising yourself, aren't you?" "Fair." "Your, woman get-up was inimitable. I had an idea that you might rig yourself out as a granger and pass for Uncle Josh." "It's a good idea," said Bertie. "Couldn't be better!" declared Handsome Harry. "I'll meet the Don at the Spitzer prospect hole to- morrow, and he shall be taken care of, you may rest assured of that. By the way, Evans, has the Don discov- ered that you are not faithful to his interests?" "I don't know. I haven't seen him lately." "When you do see him, don't let him bluflf you. He can't do you a particle of harm. There's nothing else you ■wish to tell me, is there?" "No " "Then, as Handsome Harry and I have quite a little to do, we will take our departure." Without further words Bertie and his old partner got up from their seats and left the house. Evans did not go with them. Standing at the window, he watched them disappear along the sidewalk. "You're a nice chap for a man of my calibre to tie to, an't you, now? What do yon think of yourself, Evans?" The cashier whirled about, only to find himself con- fronted by the King of the Silver Box, with two glistening revolvers in his bands. Ensconced behind one of the portieres, the gambler had heard all. CHAPTER V. DIAMOND DICK, JR., AS A POPULIST. Old Deacon Spitzer was noted for two things— his love for prospecting and his love for whisky. He had roamed over the Cripple Creek country when it was nothing but a cow-pasture, with all its fabulous riches undreamed of. When the first strike was made the deacon rushed back to the gold fields and began prospecting; but, in the par- lance of the camp, he crooked his elbow too much for his material welfare, and, one fine morning, he did as he always declared he would do, and that is, died in a pros- pect hole. The deacon's grave was the first one on the hill-side. Five times they started to dig a place in which to lay his mortal remains, but each time the diggers turned up such rich ore that a location stake was straightvvay planted in place of the deacon, and the latter was moved on. The deacon was finally interred, and his melancholy monument remained in the oid prospect hole where he had tried to strike it and had failed. - The deacon had looked for his galena on a hill-side. At the top of the hill was a whisky barrel — empty, of course, for the last act of the deacon's life? was to drain the final drop of liquor. At eight o'clock one morning a peculiar-looking figure advanced toward the prospect hole. It was a man, but he looked as though he might be cousin-german to the missing link. He wore a derby of the diminutive variety worn several years ago, and it rested on his red shock of hair very much like a potato on a pumpkin. He had whiskers under his chin that stuck out straight in front like the splints of a whisk broom. He wore a red shirt, and a "gallus" over one shoulder supported a pair of trousers that might have been in style some time before the war. A cotton umbrella and an old-fashioned carpet-bag com- pleted his equipment. When he reached the prospect hole he stuck his um- brella in the ground, hung the carpet-bag on the handle, and placed both hands to his mouth in the form of a speaking-trumpet. "Hey!" -he shouted. "Hey, there, you I Here's Josh! Here's J-o-s-h " "Stop that bawling, you infernal idiot!" cried a loud voice. A moment later the Don appeared through a cleft in the rocks. "Jest wanted tew let yeou know I was 'round." "Who are you?" "Yeou know! Don't yeou git so doggoned cunnin'." "And don't you get so confounded funny. Who are you?" "I'm a Poperlist, an' I don't b'leeve in the Guv'ment issuin' bonds! Say! fork aout that money what can't be told from the genooine, an' don't yeou git cute an' try tew load me up with sawdust, 'cause I'm purty smart. I'm goin' tew run fer taownclerk next 'lection on a sixteen- tew-one ticket. If we make a deal, it's got tew be on a sixteen-tew-one basis." "What do you mean?" "I want sixteen bogus dollars fer every good one I give ye.' "How much will you take^at that figure?" "Abar'lfuU." At this moment the Don made a gesture that was under- stood by a man on top of the hill, for the barrel was started down the slope. "You want a barrel, yon say?" queried the Don, getting out of the way of the oncoming cask. "Yep." "Well, there it is. Take it !" The farmer turned. He caught a glimpse of the barrel, but too late to save himself, for the rolling cask swept him from his feet and hurled him backward upon the rocks. Diamond Dick, Jr. — for of course the reader has divined that the supposed farmer was none other than our young hero — had his head brought in violent contact with some No. ns. DIAMOND DICK LIBRAKY. 9 of the rock which Spitzer had thrown out of his prospect hole. Bertie was not rendered entirely unconscious, but he was stunned and bewildered and was an easy subject for two burly ruffians who came running from the cleft in the rocks. A second time our hero was in the power of the Spanish Don. Ortego pointed toward the opening between the bowl- ders, and Bertie was picked up and borne through it to the secluded and ruinous cabin once occupied by the un- fortunate Spitzer. Unable to resist hia captors in the slightest degree, the youth was cast into an iron cage that stood in one corner. The heavy door of the cage was quickly closed, and the two men departed. A few moments later Beitie recovered the full power of mind and limb and caught the iron door and shook it with all his strength — but he might as well have struggled to overturn Pike's Peak. While he was engaged in his fruitless attempt, the Don entered and took a chair against the opposite wall of the room. Instinctively Bertie's hands wandered to his revolver belt, but his weapons had been removed, unknown to him. The gambler noticed his prisoner's move and smiled grimly. "No, you don't, my boy. I took the precaution to have your guns taken away from you." "What do you mean by treating me like this?" "Iwould rather face a royal Bengal tiger than confront you in your present mood,' returned the Don. "While that cage is not of my contriving, it certainly ainswers my purpose. "A short time after the unfortunate Spitzer passed in his checks a man named Higgins came into Cripple Creek with his family. Higgins was known as a poor rancher, and the supposition is that he must have struck it rich somewhere. "Well, Higgins' wife's ideas all ran to blue calico, and she bought up every roll in town. His children all praved candy, and they bought out two candy stores. As for Higgins, he bought a circus — or, gather, the menagerie part of a circus — and then the entire family vanished never to be heard of again. * That cage, there, is a melan- choly relic of Higgin's menagerie. It held the bear, and how' it came here no one knows ; but, as I said before, it answers my purpose." "I care nothing about, all that," replied Bertie. "I had supposed you would treat even an enemy in a humane manner. ' ' "So I shall, in spite of the way you treated my partner. Black Bruce. Do you recall what I said in the Lost Pocket?" "You said that if I could make a shot as good as the one you had made, I might be able to call you down." "That's what I said." "Well, Ortego, I made the shot." "So you did; and you're a veritable wizard, as your partner called you. "Rot! That cuts no ice with me. " "It does with me, my boy. I've got a scheme that I'm going to work. You and I look a little alike, and I'm going to impersonate you for a while longer, keeping you caged up here while I am doing it." Bertie made no reply, and the Don got up from his chair. „ , ^ . . ■. "Rest easy, Diamond Dick, Jr. You're not going to be hurt. It won't be healthy for you to try to escape— that's all." Thereupon the Don left the room. He had proceeded but a few steps from the cabin when one of the ruffians who had taken part in Diamond Dick, Jr. 's capture stepped out from behind a pile of bowlders. "What do you want, Larkin?" asked the Don. "I've got the stuff thar, in the cabin." "What stuff?" "♦HigBins is jno mythical character. His peculiar inTestments and sudden vanishing are still absorbing topics in certain portions of the south-west. "Why, them plates that w.e printed the queer from, to- gether with the paper and what was left of the lay-out after the blow-up in town." The gambler voiced a deep oath, as he angrily queried : "I told you to destroy the stuff. Why didn't you do it?" "That's jest what we brought it out yere fer. " "Well, destroy it and lose no time. Where's Hankins?" "He's over thar, in the cabin." "Tell him to keep shady." "After we destroy the stuff, what then?" "You're to pull out for Arizona, as I instructed yoa when we left Cripple Creek." "Keno!" Larkin started away, but suddenly paused and turned back. "Say, ole man, I want ye to answer me one question." "What's that?" "Who was that feller that I upset with the barrel?" "What do you want to know that for?" A nasty look came into Larkin's face as he replied: "'Cause I've got a sneakin' idee that it is Diamond Dick, Jr., in disguise." "That's who it is, Larkin." The man gave a black scowl as he drew his knife from, his belt. "Knowin' how much you thought of Bruce Baxter," gritted Larkin, "'tan 't possible you're goin' ter let Dia- mond Dick, Jr., git away from ye." "No." "'Tan't possible you're goin' ter do anythin' else but Larkin finished by drawing his finger across his throats The Don shrugged his shoulders. "You don't take me for a heathen, do you, Larkin? You don't expect me to murder a man in cold blood?" "No," replied Larkin, running his thumb along the edge of his knife, "I do^'t expect nothin' like that of you. I'm heathen enough ter have the sand ter play even fer a pard's takin' off, an' I'll do it, too!" He turned and started for the house. "Stop where you are, Larkin!" These stern words of command caused the ruffian to halt. As he whirled about, he was confronted with a six- shooter in the hands of the Don. "You'd kill me, would ye, Ortego?" "Quick enough, Larkin, if you attempt to cross my purpose. I want to use Diamond Dick, Jr." "You swore you'd be revenged upon him on the day Black Bruce was sent to San Quentin. " "So I will." "Then now's the time, while you've got him in yer clutches." "Now is not the time. My feelings toward Diamond Dick, Jr., are as bitter and vengeful as your own, but the Prince of Sports never yet knifed a man in the dark. Man to man, I shall some day settle accounts with him. For the present, however, I tell you that I have use for Dia- mond Dick, Jr." "And I tell you, Don, I have no use for him and had just as soon knife him in the dark, or any other way, so's I get him." "Do any injury to Diamond Dick, Jr., and you settle ac- counts with me." "Good! We'll talk about that later." "Throw down your knife." "Look here, Ortego " "Throw it down!" The Don's words rang out sharply, and his slender fore- finger flexed upon the trigger of his six shooter. With a muttered anathema Larkin cast aside his blade upon the ground. "Now go and do as I told you with those plates," com- manded the Don, and Larkin took his way toward the cabin. Slipping his revolver into his pocket, the Don turned with a grim smile and walked in the direction of the town- He had not gone far when, surmounting a slight rise of ground, he turned and looked back. An ejaculation of surprise and anger fell from his lips. Not far from the Spitzer prospect hole he saw a thiTT 10 DIAMOND DICK LIBRARY. Nov 176. t»lumn of blue smoke ascending skyward, acd he knew at once that Spitzer's cabin liad been fired. "Confound that infernal Larkin!" growled the Don, as he whirled about and hurried back at a run. As he came closer to the scene of the fire all doubts were removed. Larkin had carried his bloody scheme of vengeance into effect. "I'll pull Diamond Dick, Jr., out of that fire," said Ortego, increasing his speed, "if it's the last thing I ever do." "No, ye don't, Don!" As these-words were uttered a brawny hand reached out from behind a bowlder, and the gambl3r was neatly tripped up by means of a stick which had been thrust be- tween his legs. As he sprang to his feet again the Don found himself looking into the muzzle of a Winchester held by no less a person than Hankins. "What do you mean, Hankins?" cried the Don, angrily. "I mean that you're ter stop whar ye air! Make another step in the direction of that burnin' cabin, an' I'll pump a ballet inter yer body. Sabe?" "You infernal scoundrel! Do you realize what you're doing? Put up that eun !" "Come off, Ortego! You can't feaze me a little bit. Honest, now, I'd hate ter hurt ye; but I can't fergit Black Bruce, an' Diamond Dick, Jr., has got to be treated ac- oordin'." "Do you mean to burn him alive?" "Naw." "But he's caged up in that burning shanty." "So he is, an' you've got ter set down on that pile o' rocks an' wait till that shanty is plumb gone." "You're a cold-blooded villain, Hankins." "Mebbe. Anyhow, I've got the sand ter carry out what I swear to, an' that's jest whar you're weak, Don. Set down!" Obliged to comply with Hankins' request, Ortego seated himself and lighted a cigar, watching the burning cabin •with thoughtful eyes. The roof fell ; then, one by one, the walls caved into the burning building, leaving the gaunt iron cage still stand- ing upright in the ruins. "Ugh!" said the Don. "Nothing conld hire me to do ■what you and Larkin have done to-day, Hankins. ' ' Hankins grinned. "That's because you're a gentleman, Don, an' like ter do yer killin' in a gentlemanly way. Larkin an' I are only hobos, an' when we've got ter do a chap we do him in the way that comes handiest. Whar's Bolivar?" "Bolivar's all right. I won't tell you where he is be- cause I see I can't trust you. You're as ready to turn against me as you are to eat a meal. " "Don't you believe it, ole man. What we've done ter- day Larkin an' I had ter do, that's all." "Was that stuff from the assay oflSce taken care of?" "It was burned in the cabin. Thar's no restraint on ye now, Don. Ye kin go as ye please." As he said this Hankins put up his guns, and the Don •walked over to the smoking embers of Spitzer's cabin. The cage, being constructed of iron, hftd successfully resisted the flames. On the floor of the cage lay an indistinguishable heap of something from which the Don turned with a feeling of sickening disgust. "Well," he muttered, "Diamond Dick, Jr.'s meteoric career has been suddenly cut short. All that remains for me to do now is to lay for those Bicknell diamonds." And once more the gambler set his face toward Cripple Creek. CHAPTER VI. HANDSOME HAKRY SHOWS HIS HAND. We must now go back a few hours in our story and re- turn to Evans, the cashier, who was left in a decidedly unpleasant situation. "How did you manage to get in here, Ortego?" ask6d Evans of the gambler. "Being hard pressed in the Lost Pocket, I thought I I would drop in here and wait for the affair to blow over. I'm glad I did. I heard you coming shortly after I arrived : and recognized the voice of Diamond Dick, Jr. So I secreted myself. You saved your worthy relative from !my machinations, did you? Good! I am glad to know that Diamond Dick, Jr., is to play the part of a farmer-. I will meet him at Spitzer's prospect hole, but I hardly think we shall make a deal in bogus money." "Ortego," said the cashier, fiercely, "you shall not leave this room to-night." Evans stepped in front of the door as he spoke. The Don laughed. "Now? my boy, you're conversing through your head- gear. You forget that I have the drop on you and that you are to do as I tell you to. " "You will have to stay here and watch me," replied the young man, passionately, "for, unless you put a bullet through my heart, I swear that you cannot tie me so securely but that I shall get away from you and warn Diamond Dick, Jr., that you have discovered, our plot." "I have no doubt but that^ou would exert every effort to do as you say, but I shall not tie you, and neither shall I stay here and watch you." Putting the fingers of his left hand to his lips, the Don blew a shrill signal. A moment later steps were heard along the hall, the door flew open, and a bushy-bearded man presented him- self. "Want me, Don?" queried the new-comer, in a harsh voice. "Yes. Come in, Bolivar. " Bolivar stepped inside. "Look at this man well, Evans. I am going to leave you in his charge, and if yon can break away from him you are welcome to do it. " The cashier eyed Bolivar from head to heels. The gambler's henchman was at least six feet in height and proportioned like a herculqj. Beside hiin Evans looked like a pigmy, "If he gits away from me, cap," said Bolivar, "you kin bet he's welcome to his freedom." "Watch him as a cat would watch a mouse, " cautioned the gambler, "and at the slightest movfe on his part to break away, use your guns." "Trust me. How long am I to keep him yere?" "Till eight o'clock to-morrow morning." After giving Bolivar a few further instructions, the Don took his departure. "I'm goin' ter sit down," said Bolivar, dropping into an easy-chair and resting the hand which held his revolver on one of the arms. "You kin .do the same thing if ye want to, pard. " Evans seated himself without a word, and a couple of hours passed away. Bolivar was vigilant as a hawk, and the muzzle of his weapon never deviated from its aim by a hair's 'breadth. "Your name's Bolivar, is it?" Evans finally queried. "What's that to you?" was the quick retort. "Nothing. But I can lay my hands on five hundred in cold cash, and I wonder if I could make it any object to you to " "Stop that, youngster." "I could possibly get hold of a thousand." "It wouldn't help yer case any if ye could git hold of ten thousand. Ye don't know what a hold the ole man has got on me, an' I'll tell ye right now that if L'd let ye go, I might jest as well throw up my hands an' pass out o' the game. I'm goin' ter set right yere, an' you're goin' ter set right thar, an' if ye do anythin' rantankorous, I'm goin' ter shoot, an' I won't shoot wild, either." Another hour passed away. The cashier was casting about in his mind for some plan of escape. He could not bear to think that Diamond Dick, Jr., a man who had befriended hinj in his time of need, was about to become the victim of the Spanish Don. Something must be done, and Evans was on the point of attempting a desperate step when a heavy footfall was heard along the hall outside. Ko. 175. DIAMOND DICK U^RAIIY. 11 Bohvar prickod up his ears and looked hard at the cashier as the step npproaelied and stopped at the door. A moment later a heavy hand knocked on the panels. With a swift, cat-ljke bound, Bolivar placed himself at Evans' side and pressed his revolver against the young man's temple. "Now, then,"' he hissed, "it's you an' I for it. You're ter say jest what I tell ye or take the consequences." "Hello, thar, Evans!" cried a deep voice from the hall. The cashier recognized the voice and planned a desperate deed, even as the words were being spoken. "Hold yer whist," commanded Bolivar; "don't say a •word!" Evans was sitting beside a small table on which was a piece of bric-a-brac. He moved slightly, as though recoiling from the out- law's revolver, jarred the table, and the ornamental piece fell over and broke with a crasli. "Cuss ye!" gritted Bolivar; "I have a dorn big notion ter shoot ye fer that. The chap outside knows thar's some one in yere now." "I say, Evans! Wake up! I want ter swap a few words •with ye." "Ask who it is?" whispered the outlaw. "Who is it?" repeated Evans. "Han'sum Harry. Don't ye recognerize the meller trill of my bazoo? Let me in." "Tell him to stay outside and swap his words through the door," again whispered Bolivar. "I'm in the hands of the Don! I'm " Crack! The cashier had executed a desperate purpose. Suddenly springing up from his chair, he gave Bolivar » push and called out his warning to Handsome Harry. Bolivar fired, but his aim was wild. Before he had a chance to repeat his shot the big Cali- fornian had crashed through the door, sprang into the room, and knocked the revolver from the outlaw's hand. Bolivar leaped backward with a growl of rage. "I thought thar must be somethin' wrong," said Hand- some Harry, "an' I see I wasn't mistaken. Who is this feller, Evans?" "The Don's pard." "You bet," returned Bolivar. "Although you've dis- armed me, Han'sum Harry, you haven't captered me, an' I'm goid' ter pass through that door behind ye." "Yer welcome ter try." Bolivar started forward, doubling up his fists, and Evans placed himself alongside the Californian. "Git away, sonny, " said Handsome Harry; "I'd never forgive myself if I allowed ye ter help me polish that varmint off. Sit down over thar an' watch the fracas— it looks as though it might be a pretty one. Sit down, I tell ye!" Seeing that Handsome Harry was in earnest, Evans dropped into a chair. "Now, then, my gallus friend," went on the Californian,- "if ye'll kindly sashay in this direction, I'll accommodate ye with as neat a pair of fists as ye ever run up against. Come on!" "I'm comin'," replied Bolivar; "I've never yet struck a man that could knock me out, an' I don't reckon I have this time." ,, "Thar's a big surprise in store fer ye, then. Without further talk Bolivar advanced to the fray in a manner that was scientific and beautiful to see. Advancing to within arm's reach of the Californian, he made a pass with his left and another with his right. Handsome Harry parried both blows, and with the quickness of lightning delivered a couple of pile-driver clips on each of Bolivar's shoulders. , ^ .. . . The outlaw went down on the table and smashed it into kindling wood. „ , tt >• • j "Never mind the furniture. Handsome Harry, cried Evans, delightedly; "I'll stand the damage. Give it to "How the blazes did ye do that?" queried Bolivar, as he ^'"SneTt me^g'in an' I'll show ye," replied Handsome Harry. "Jest what I'm goin' ter do, pilgrim," panted Bolivai "an' you kin bet I'll double ye up this time." "Do, my huckleberry, do!" remarked the Californian, as he sprang forward and caught his enemy in transit^ with his guards in poor position. Had an earthquake suddenly burst open the ground be- neath Bolivar's feet, he could not have been hurled farther, nor with greater force. He turned end over end, smashed into the wall, and then dropped in a heap on the floor and lay there without sound or movement. "You've killed him!" exclaimed Evans. "Don't you believe it," replied Handsome Harry, as he approached and bent over the form of the unfortunate outlaw. "That upper-cut simply put him to sleep — I knew it would. Now me boy, I came back to ask it Miss Bicknell is comin' down from Denver, to-raorrer, an' if she dupli- cated them diamonds o' hers in paste." "I presume she has," replied Evans, "although I know nothing about it. I also believe she will arrive in Cripple Creek to-day, for you See it is almost sunrise. And that reminds me that we must hurry if we would save Diamond Dick, Jr." "What's the matter with Diamond Dick, Jr.?" queried Harry. Without loss ol time the cashier narrated the adventures he had had since Diamond Dick, Jr., and Handsome Harry had left him in his room. "Then the Don is onto the hull scheme?" "Yes." Handsome Harry gave a long whistle. "Then Diamond Dick, Jr. '11 have ter be steered clear of trouble, an' his old pard is the hqmbre ter do it." "I'll go with you." "No, Evans; you go down to the train an' meet Miss Bicknell. That's what Diamond Dick, Jr., sent me back ter tell ye." "Very well; but what's to be done with that man there?" "He's jest beginnin' ter revive. Come on an' let's slide out afore he gits his wits back." "Why not turn him over to the police?" . "He hasn't done anythin' we can arrest him fer; be- sides, a feller that put up as purty a fight as he did de- serves some consideration." The two then left the room and parted in front of the house. "Diamond Dick,f Jr., wasn't to be at Spitz6r's hole be- fore eight o'clock, eh?" asked the Californian. "No." "That was my idee, but I wante'd to be sure. If anythin' happens to Miss Bicknell, let Diming Dick, Jr., know, will ye?" "Certainly," replied Evans, in some alarm ; "but what does Diamond Dick, Jr., think can happen to her?" "That's a conundrum. Bertie can't understand that Bicknell affair at all. Why does the gal kerry all her money in dimings?" "Because she's peculiar, I suppose." "Wall, mebby; but Diming Dick, Jr., doesn't seem ter think so. Howsumever, we'll wait an' watch develop- ments. By, by, Evans. " They separated, going in different directions. Proceeding to the hotel. Handsome Harry discovered that Bertienad left it some time before. "He must have started for the Spitzer claim," muttered Handsome Harry, "an' I'll have ter overtake him." Without loss of further time, he left the town behind him and walked rapidly along in the direction of Spitzer's old place. He had just struck the first spur of the rocky hill be- hind which lay Spitzer's cabin, when he heard a loud cry for "Help!" proceeding from amoilg the rocks. At this point a ravine-like opening penetrated the hill, and obeying his first impulse, the Californian turned into it. The call for help grew louder and more urgent as he proceeded. The ravine grew wider and deeper, and suddenly, aa Handsome. Harry turned a sudden angle in the rooks, he saw ahead of him an old shaft-house, and from within this came the muffled qries for assistance. 12 DIAMOND DICK LIBRARY. Na.lT& l:i order to reach the shaft-house it was necessary to pass between two upright bowlders of huge dimensions, 8e]i'irated by only a few feet. 'Help! help! Oh, will not some one come to my aid?" This time the voice had a distinctly feminine -tone as it foil upon Handsome Harry's ears. He had a wild thought that perhaps Miss Bicknall might have iHllon into the Don's hands in spite of all that he and Bertir had done to prevent it. Handsome Harry dashed on, drawing his revolvers as he ran. In between the bowlders he rushed, and then, just as he struck the space between, the ground gave way beneath his feet, and he grabbed wildly at the air as he disap- peared irorxx sight. The Californian did not fall far, and he was upon his feet in a moment. Looking around and above him, he discovered that he was in a hole some twenty feet deep. It was a mine located, undoubtedly, by some speculator who had done only sufficient assessment work on his claim to hold it. "It's a trick," grumbled Handsome Harry, who realized at once that the top of the hole had been covered over for the purpose of deceiving and trapping him. The sides of the pit were smooth and vertical, so that it was impossible to escape save by a rope frbm above or a ladder from beneath. Suddenly a voice hailed the Californian, and a face peered down at him. "Hello thar, Han'sum Harry! Yer in a worse hole than I was a little while ago." The man was Bolivar. Then, for the first time. Handsome Harry realized what a bad break he had made in leaving Bolivar in Evans' lodgings. "Oh, it's you, is it? What did ye doihis fer?" "Jest ter keep ye from helpin' Diamond Dick, Jr., out of a sci-ape. Say, ye gi'mea couple of purty stiff blows, but I wasn't knocked so senseless as ye thought— not by a good ways. I jest laid thar an' heerd everythin' ye said; then, while- ye lost time goin' to the hotel I rushed out this way an' laid this little trap fur ye. Cunnin', wasn't it?" "You'll be a dern sight cunnin 'er an' show a heap more sense if you pull me out o' yere without loss of time." "Don't you think it!" "If you don't pull me out of yere inside of ten minits, I'll sw'ar ter camp on yer trail when 1 do git out an' never let up on ye until I play even. ' ' "You can't ring in no bluff of that kind on me! I've got too much sand in ,my craw ter knuckle under to the Sar- pint of Siskiyou. Besides, wharever I go I don't leave any trail — it's dangerous. I'm goin' ter leave ye down thar. So long, ole man!" Then with a loud laugh, Bolivar's head disappeared from the brink of the pit. "Confound the luck!" muttered Handsome Harry, look- ing at his watch; "it's half-past seven now, an' if I don't git out o' yere by eight I can't do anythin' fer Bertie." In the hope that some passer-by might hefar the sounds and come to bis assistance. Handsome Harry exploded every cartridg3 in his revolvers. In vain, however. Then he began to yell at the top of his voice, but he soon gave this up and seated himself on a block of granite. "Yere I am," he muttered, disgustedly, "an' how the blazes am I goin' ter git out?" His eye wandered up the side of the pit. The vein of granite ended A, few yards above his head, and from there upward to the top the sides were composed of earth and gravel. Drawing his revolver from his belt, Handsome Harry stood on the bowlder and reached upward as far as he oould, thrusting the barrel of the forty-four into a crevice up to the trigger-guard; then, clutching this with one hand, he slowlj' and carefully drew himself up the uneven side of the shaft and thrust his second revolver into another crevice. After this, by steady and skillful work, he managed to clamber up until he could set his feet on the revolvers. I This brought his head above the edge of the rock strata, and he could make use of his knife in digging footholds I that would support him in his attempt to reach the mouth I of the pit. I As he was diligently working he heard a sound above I his head and looked up. j He saw a sight that appalled him, lion-hearted though I ho was. I Bolivar had been joined by a second man, and both wer» [ engaged in an attempt to loosen one of the bowlders and topple it into the prospect hole. "Stop that, you miserable coyotes!" howled Handsome Harry. "Letup, I tell ye, or I'll put a couple of bullets whar they'll do the world the most good." "How kin ye fire more'n twelve shots fiom two revol- vers, hey, pilgrim?" cried Bolivar, looking down. "I heerd ye shootin' twelve times, an' he can't fool us a little bit. We're goin' ter drop a stone inter that hole or bust a gallus tryin'." Pulling with all their strength upon the rope with which the two outlaws were seeking to effect their purpose, Handsome Harry saw, to his dismay, that the bowlder was steadily giving way. Slowly, inch by inch, it was drawn down toward the mouth of the pit. In a few moments its centre of gravity would certainly be displaced, and it would fall into the hole with irre- sistible force. Handsome Harry could only cling to the side of the pit and watch the terrific efforts of his enemies above. All at once he gave vent to a wild shout for help. Barely had the echoes of his voice died away when the crack of a rifle reverberated among the rocks, and Bolivar gave a howl and loosened his hold on the rope. Bolivar's companion took to his heels at 'once, and Bolivar himself would have done so but for a bullet in the leg. A few moments later another face peered over the mouth of the shaft. "Hello, down there!" cried a familiar voice. "Bertie, by thunder!" exclaimed Handsome Harry. CHAPTER VII. CONCLUSION. After. being left alone in the cage and satisfying himself that escape was impossible, Bertie leaned against the bars and did some deep thinking. Could it be that Evans had lured him into a trap by sending him out to Spitzer's prospect hole disguised as a farmer? Were the cashier and the King of the Silver Box work- ing together? Diamond Dick, Jr., could not bring himself to believe this. A proficient reader of human character, as he was, he could not understand how he could be so deceived in Evans' face, if the young fellow had acted a treache(rous part. Bertie's reflections were suddenly cut short by sounds proceeding from the other room. He listened intently. A smell of burning wood was borne to his nostrils, and he saw a red flame creeping along the wall of the cabin just where the partition ran through that divided the in- terior into two rooms. The shanty had been fired! Was it possible that Ortego could have been guilty of so dastardly a deed? The smoke increased. The flames grew denser and hotter, and Diamond Dick Jr., knew that unless he could break from the cage or summon assistance to his aid, he would be suffocated and burned to death. Throwing himself against the door, he brought all his strength to bear upon it. He was powerless, however, to force it open. The hot air became so stifling, finally, that he waa obliged to throw himself down in the cage and lay his lips against the floor in order to breathe at all. No. :76. DIAMOND DICK LIBRARY. ]3 "While he was lying thua, he saw a fcwm leap into the blazing room. It seemed like a forna from the infernal regions, so dis- torted was the face with anger and a demoniacal desire for vengfeanre. "Diamond Dick, Jr.," shouted the form, "you sent Black Bruce to San Quentin, an' right yere's whar I play even with ye ! I fired this house, but fearin' the flames might miss ye, I'm goin' ter make sure of ye 1 Ah, ha 1 smotherin', are ye? Then the job is so much easier fer me I" Bertie heard all, and he saw the knife in the desperado's hand, but he lay quietly and waited. Throwing open the iron door, the man leaped inside. It was Larkin. He was mad for revenge. With a wild bound, he leaped to the spot where Bertie was lying, but quick as a flash the youth dealt his wrist a blow that sent the knife flying. Almost overcome by the heated air, Bertie jumped through the iron door and ran from the burning building. He gave no attention to Larkin, and the outlaw, crazy with anger because of being baffled, dashed after him, but in some way lost his bearings and groped round and round through the dense smoke, unable to find the door. At last frantic with rage and cursing with his last breath, the outlaw sank senseless upon the floor. Bertie had but one thought as he rushed out of the cabin, and that was for the capture of the Don. There was Jio doubt but that the gambler was a counter- feiter, and, while the case against him was weak, Bum- mers was certainly anxious to put him under arrest. As Bertie hurried away by a rociy path through the hills he kept his eyes constantly scanning the country about him. Thinking that the Don had fired the cabin, Bertie argued in his mind that he would be anxious to escape from the scene of his brutality and that the vicinity of the Spitzer claim would be a poor place to look for him. For once our hero reasoned erroneously, although he had no means of knowing that rebels in the Don's camp had brought about the present state of affairs. For an hour or more Diamond Dick, Jr. , wandered about iiie rocky hills and passes searching for the gambler or endeavoring to find some traces of him. He finally saw a man whom he recognized as Hankins, one of the men whom he met in the assay office and, later, one of those who had borne him into Spitzer's cabin. Hankins was talking earnestly with a disreputable- looking individual whom Bertie had never before seen. This man carried a rope. After a brief conversation, both men turned and disap- peared over the brow of a hill. Bertie followed, screening himself from view and watching their operations. Once down in the little ravine to which they had re- paired, Hankins and his companion wound the rope about a bowlder and began pulling it toward a hole which Berftie recognized at once as a mine in process of development. Finally Hankins and the other man stopped in their labor, and the latter leaned over and shouted something to some one in the pit. Diamond Dick, Jr., heard enough of the fellow's words to realize that the two men were up to some deviltry that should be stopped, and he instantly prepared to stop it. His revolvers had been taken from him, and he had not managed to secure them again, but Hankins had set down a Winchester not far from where he was working, in order that he might work at the rope unimpeded. The rifle was some distance from Bertie, but he resolved bv a quick, noiseless movement to obtain possession of it. "While the two outlaws were busily tugging at the rope he started up and made for the Winchester. He had secured the gun and had brought it to his shoulder before his movement was discovered. Hankins was scared at this, sudden appearance of one whom he supposed to have been burned to death m Spit- zer's shnntv, and, being unarmed, he lost no time in taking to his heels, as was stated at the close of the pre- ceding chapter. The second man dropped upon the rocks, wounded and unable to move. Leaning over the shaft, Bertie was surprised to discover Handsome Harry below, and he lost no time in removing the i:ope from the bowlder and lowering one end of it to his friend's assistance. "Well," exclaimed Bertie, as Handsome Harry climbed out of the pit, "how did you happen to get into that fix?" Handsome Harry explained briefly. The explanation was barely finished when faint revolver shots were borne to their ears from the other side of the low hill. "What's up?" queried Handsome Harry. Bertie grasped the Winchester with a firm hand and started up the hill. "I don't know, " he answered, "but follow me, and we'll find out." As they reached the brow of the hill they looked off down the road and saw a horseman dashing toward them, pursued by three men who were making vain use of their revolvers. Such a dust was kicked up by the on-coming horses that it was difficult to see either pursued or pursuers. But Bertie's eyes were sharp, and he finally exclaimed: "The man ahead is the Don !" "And one of the fellers behind," added Handsome Harry, "is Summers." "Good! then we know where we are. The Don must be stopped." "How you going to do it? Pepper him?" "No; I don't want to kill him, and a shot while he is tearing along at that pace might prove fatal. I shall crease his horse. If I make a miss and kill the animal, it's no great odds. " "Yer a wizard with a gun, me boy, but I doubt if ye kin crease the critter at that gait. That's a better shot than you made in the Lost Pocket." "If I make it," replied Bertie, grimly, "I'll be calling the Don down in just the way that I want to." Throwing himself on his stomach, Bertie laid the barrel of the rifle across a rock and followed the movements of the Don's horse until the animal bore its rider directly in front of him. Then— Sping! The rifle-shot rang out sharply, and the horse leaped high into the air and dropped down on the rooks, turning over and over. The Don was caught under the struggling animal and was rendered unconscious by the mishap. Bertie and Handsome Harryrushed down the hill and hastily examined the gambler. "No bones broken,'.' said Bertie, unbuttoning the Don's coat and removing two revolvers (Bertie's own, by the way) from his hip pockets. "Give him a swallow of whisky, Harry, if you have a flask with you." By the time Summers and his companions came up, -the Don was just raising himself to a sitting posture. "Diamond Dick, Jr. !" exclaimed Summers; "I'm sur- prised to find you here." "Diamond Dick, Jr. 1" growled the King of the Silver Box. "You've got more lives than a cat. I could have taken my. oath that you were burned to death in Spitzer's cabin." That would have been my fate," was Bertie's stern reply, "had you had your way, Ortego." "You're mistaken. I don't kill defens defenseless men in that way. Who, then, made such a dastardly attempt?" "That I will not tell .you; but it was not my hand that fired the cabin and neither was it fired by my orders. Be- lieve this or not, as you will; it is the truth." "An elesrant shot, Bertie!" broke in Handsome Harry, pointing to the gambler's horse, which had risen to its feet and was looking around in a bewildered way. "You creased him at that gait and with the dust to blind yQu!" exclaimed the gambler. "It was a good shot, " said Summers, "but I've got my duty to perform. We'll do that first and talk about the fine marksmanship afterward." The orfioer motioned to one of the men who accom- panied him. 14 D1AM0^•D DICK LIBRARY. Wi. 17«. The man advanced and snapped a pair of haudcuffs on till' Dim's wiists. " fell pa Ortego, I arrest you in the name of the United yral:'s," ■•I'^ur oounterfeiting?" queried the gambler, sneoringly. " i'liia is an outriige! You have not a particle of proof against iiio !" "Haven't vre?" queried Summers, vrith a laugh. "Look liere!" As lie spoke he drew into sight a package of twentj'- dollar bills that looked as though they had just had a bath. "Where did you get those? I never saw them before. " "Nonsehae ! Both of my men, as well as myself, can swear that you threw those into the creek while we were chasing you. I stopped to get them, and that is what put us so far behind in the race. ' ' "You will have a hard time proving your case on me, Summers." "That remains to be soen," replied the officer. Then he turned to Bertie. "Diamond Dick, Jr., allow me to tender you my thanks for the timely assistance given my by yourself. But for that skillful shot, it is possible that Ortego would have escai)ed. " "There's no doubt of it," replied the gambler. "Dia- mond Dick, Jr., I have something else to lay up against you." "What d'ye think now about this country not being big enough fer you an' Diming Dick, Jr.?" asked Handsome Harry. "I'm not saying a word, " returned the gambler. "Think ye'll copper every dodge that Little Thunder- bolt plays, do you?" The Don said nothing, but a fierce look passed over his face. "Enough, Harry!" said Bertie. "Don't hit a man when he's down." "Have you got an extra horse, Summers?" asked Hand- some Harry. "No; why?" "We've got a prisoner on t'other side of the hill." "Whpfishe?" "Bolivar — one of the Don's men." "Good! Bring him over. We can load the two prisoners on the Don's horse. " , When Bertie and Handsome Harry went after Bolivar, however, they found he had disappeared. "Probably Hankins came back an' helped him ter git away, ' ' suggested the Californian. *'In that event," replied Bertie, "they can't be far away, and we'll skirmish around and see if we can find them." , The outlaws had made good their escape, however, and after a short search Bertie and Handsome Harry returned to Summers and his men and reported what had happened. "Well," replied the officer, "Bolivar, Hankins, and Larkin will be run down sooner or later. Their time will come. How are you and Handsome Harry going to get back to town, Mr. Wade?" "Hoof it," said Handsome Harry. "Keep your eye on the Don," warned Bertie; "he's as slippery as an eel, and you can't count on having him until you g6t him behind the walls of the penitentiary." "And not then," replied the Don, grimly. Bertie had occasion afterward to remember the gam- bler's words. ******* The finding of the package of counterfeit notes, thrown away by the Don in his flight, supplemented with the evi- dence of Bertie and Handsome Harry regarding the sup- jjosed "assay" office, conspired to fasten the Don's crime firmly upon him. From Cripple Creek he was taken to Denver and was there tried before the United States court and sentenced to the penitentiary. Ortego fought his case well, but the evidence against him was too strong. "Pawnee Bill at Work fob Uncle Sam ; or. On th» A week after his incarceration Diamond Dick, Jr., was Trail With Spotted Tail," by E. W. Wheeler, will be startled by headlines in the daily papers which announced published in the next number (176) of the Diamond Dicx the gambler's escape. Ortego bad outwitted the guards in Library. a most ingenious manner and had succeeded in concealing himself in a load of potatoes and was driven out of the penitentiary inclosure. Vigorous efforts were put forth to capture the escaped convict, but even while the search was going forward Diamond Dick, Jr., received a letter from Evans, the cashier, stating that Miss Bicknell had been relieved of her diamonds and that it was no less a personage thiin the Don who had stolen them. " That feller's a corker with a big K," remarked Hand- some Harry, when he heard of the gambler's escape. "He's a clever villain," returned Diamond Dick, Jr., "or he never would have attempted to rob Miss Bicknell of her diamonds at this particular time. There's one thing about all this that I can't understand." "What's that?" ,^ "Why does the Don want those stones?" "For the money thar is in 'em, I recJcon." "I don't think that is his object." "I don't see how he could have any other object, me son." "He runs such great risks to secure the gema that it seems to me he must want them for something else be- sides their intrinsic value. See how he attempted to secure them the fiist time." "By usin' Evans as a tool?" "Yes." "It was rather a cute thing fer the Don to win a jack- pot fer Evans an' then make him do his dirty work." "No one but a man with a desperate purpose would hare attempted such a thing. You can gamble on one thing, Harry." "What's that?" . "Why, that you and I have not yet seen the last of th« Don." "Are ye. thinkin' of runnin' him down?" "I may have to do it in self-defense if the Don does as I believe he intends doing. " "I don't sabe that, me son." "You remember how the Don passed himself off for m* in the Lost Pocket when he scattered those bogus twenty- dollar bills?" "Yes." "Perhaps you can also remember that he nearly got m« ■into a peck of trouble." "I remember it distinctly." "Well, I believe that the Don intends to continue imper- sonating me while committing his acts of deviltry. It may be that he was passing under the name of Diamond Dick, Jr., when he stole those diamonds of Miss Bicknell. I shall await the details of that robbery with considerabto curiosity." "An' if he is palmin' himself off fer you^ " "The only thing left for me to do is to bring him t» book in as short order as possible." "That's the talk!" exclaimed Handsome Harry. "If it comes to that, I'll have a hand in the deal myself." As it turned out, Diamond Dick, Jr.'s fears regarding the Don's actions were realized. The youth at once allied himself with officers of the law and started upon his" task of hunting down the King of ths Silver Box. . He underwent some strange experiences, but their narration must be made the theme for another story which will be told in a future issue of this library under the title of, "Diamond Dick, Jr.'s Snap-Shot: Or, The Teu-Strike at the Tame Tiger." (THE END.) Nc :76 DIAMOND DICK LIBIIA-RY. 15 -JVCITiTiiSt' LETTER WRITER This book of over one liuiidred pages 111 all uoutaiiiB complete iuntrurtinn branobea of correspoinieiice, logellier witu saiiipleB of letters on every variety of siibject — Peniiiaiiship, Spelling, Griinnnar, Pniictnation, Use of Capitals, Abbievijrtious, style; advlre t-o thos** who write for tlie press, business letters, letters of introtlm*tit)n, aiipHuatioti. rei'onnbendation, social, conKratiilation, love and oourtshi p. etc., the art uf. secret writiiif^. business laws and niaxinis, rules of oonductinK public ineetinjLrs, and all forms of conv^iyinp thoni^bt from one iiiimi to anotber throusU the medium of written lanjj:uase. This valuable book will be sent postpaid to any address on receipt of ten cents. Ad- dress MANUAL I.IBKARY, 25 Rose St.. New York. TRAINING Guide ^ FOR AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES. A.\l who desire to preserve and improve their Uealtli &nd strength should secure this book. FR-IOE lO OEISTTS. NotliiiiR is more calculated to create a pennaiient In.lnry to tlie liealtli of » yoiiiiB man tliiin for liiiu to exercise and diet liiiiiself witliout iiroper lu- striictioiis. This boolf ooutaiiiscliapters oirrrHimiiK of Boys; Diet; Spirits, Wine, aud Ale; Sinokinjc; Training Before Breakfast; Practice tor Sliort Distances; Pr.ictice tor Half-Mile, Mile, and Upward ; llnrdle-RacinK; Form and Style; Raring: AValkina; Steeplecliasins; Hare-and-Hoimds ; Cold aud Warm Katlis; Miscellaneous, Costume; Strains, Blisters, etc.; Final Advice. Tliis Dook is gotten np in attractive form. Tlie cover is illnstratml »r.d printed in colors. This valualde book will be sent, postage free, to any Address ou receipt of price 10 cents. Address. MANUAi, LIBRARY, Publishers, 26 Rose St., New York. LOVE, COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. All who contemplate marriage shonld con- sider well the step thev are abont to take, re- niembering that their life's happiness depends upon the selecticm. The following subjects are treated in our iiook : l,6rt;ter8 of Love. Secret Love. The More Pas- sionate, How to Make and Create Love, How to Kiss Delicionsly, Ho* to Make a Woman Yield, Whom to iM.'irry and Whom to Avoid. Advice to Those Ahont to Marry, The Bride's Despond- «noT. Unhappiness Shortly After Marriage, The Responsibilities , of Mar- riage MarryingPoverty, Dress and Deportineiit, etc. Tne book is entitled TiiBMAUUlAOK Mirrok: or, LovK AND Courtship. Price lOcenis. iiiK niAuii. » A.ldress MANUAL LIBRARY, 25 Rose St., Kew York. OUT-DOOR SPORTS. Complete instructions for playing many of the most popular out-of-door games is found in this book. The games are illustrated aud very easily mastered. Price ten cents. Address MANUAL LIBRARY, 25 Rose St., New York. HU^^TER AND ANGLER. Everybody who takes pleasure in the sports of hunting and angling needs tills book. Therfc is no sport so well fitted to make men of boys as luinting. The fact of being in the open air and exercising i.s so evidently bcii^^ticial that it is surprising thatthere are not more hunters aud anglers. 'Xhls book will be sent to any address on receipt of ten cent«. Adilrcss MANUAL LIBRARY, 25 Rose St., New York. HOW TO DO BUSINESS. This book Is a guide to success in life. eml>raciiig Principles of Bn.'^ineBs, Choice of Pursuit, Buying and Selling. Oeiieral Mjiiiagcineiit, Mechanical Trades. Manufacturing, Book-keeping, Causes of Success and Failure. Business Maxims and Forms, etc. It also contains an appendix of com- plete business forms aud a dictionary of coiuiuercial terms. No young man should be without this valuable book, it ^lyes complete iurorniation ii))f>iit trades, professions and occupations in which any young man is liiierest^d. Price ten cents. Address MANUAL LIBRARY, 26 Rose St., New York. VENTRILOQUISM. The most efficient method of learning the art of speaking in such a manner as to make the sound appear to come from a place remote from the speaker, is taught in tlie book entitled Callahan's Easy Min'AOD of Vkntkiloqoism. The method is based upon the experience of a professiomil exhibitor. This book also contains anmslug dialogues and recitations for beginners, Seut postpaid ou receipt of ten cents. Address MANUAL LIBRARY, 25 Rose St., New York. WRESTLING. History tells us that wrestling was the first form of nthletlc pasfiine. Without doubt, it gives strength and tirmne^s. combined with qiiickuesB and pliability, to the limbs, vigor to the body, coolness and discrimination to the head and elasticity to the temper, the whole foniiing an energetic combination of the greatest power to be found in num. The book is enlitleil Prokkssok Muluoon'8 Wrustling. It is fully illustrated, and will be sent postpaid ou receipt ot ten cents. Address MANUAL LIBRARY, 26 Rose St., New York. PALMISTRY, FORTUNE-TELL- INO, DREAMS, Etc. This book Is a complete guide to lucky dreams and speedy fortune, con- taining the oiWy .true method of fortuiie-telHng and divination, llie art of palmistry, full an now learn not only to take good pictures, but pictures that there Is eyer.v where a deniiind fo. at re nuiieriitivo prices. A complete guide to tins faseiii; ting art, entitled AM VT1.UR Manual <)i- PiioTooRArilv. will he senton receiptor ten cents. A.MATLURMANUAi^<>i^r^^ MANUAL LIKKARY, 26 Rose St., New York. Album Writer's Assistant. Amateur's .Manual of Photography, How to Do Itusiness, Short Hand for Everybodjr. The Taxiilermist Itlniiual. Eyeryilftv Cook Bonk. Boys' Oirii Itook of Boats. GAMES AND SPORTS. The Book of Knowledge. Women's Secrets; or, llotv to he BenuUfiil. Mills' Universal l,etter-Wrlter. Good Housekeeping. People's Uefereiice Itook. The Marriage Mirror; or, Love and Court*- ship. Ont Door Sports. The Young (Jyiniinst. The Hunter and Angler. . Dunn's Keuoing Instructor. Prof. Jluldooii's iVrestllug. The romplete ('hecker Player. Barkcnmiuou aud Kngatellc. (;a|)t.~ Webh's Snimiuiiig Instructor. Pne's Voftl-linll. t'aiupbeU's Lana Tenuis. Biddies and Their Aiiswers. Amateur and Prol'esKiniial Oarsman's Manual. The Inieruniiounl ('rlrket l-uide. Complete Trniuiiig (iuidc for Amalenr and Piofcssiounl Aihletes. Riding nud HriTing. <'a inlinii's Knsy 91e1liod of Veuirlloqulsai. The <'oiiiple1e Angler. Aquatic Guide; or, Xachliiig and Sailing. BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE. . . ..,. ..»..,t.a,>4T,. oliJ*rles Brtigin, 15^5 77. !<;, iiaiississi: