Diamond Dick, Jr.: The Boys' Best Weekly — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10 DIAMOND DICK JR. library, just as Bertie had been informed by the railroad conductor. But there was not a sign of occupants. Bertie listened,.and not a sound was to be heard anywhere in the building. Diamond Dick, Jr., was greatly puz- zled. He could not account for the disap- pearance of the two men with their pris- oner. And he was positive, now, that they had not had time to get out of the build- ing before he could get in, after his see- ing them. They were still there, somewhere. Aftre examining this room he returned to the floor below. There he retraced his steps to the room of the mystery, where he entered and closed the door. . If there was a mysterious means of egress from that room, he meant to know where it was, and he set about searching for it in a systematic fashion. He had a nickeled case containing a wax candle, and opening that he lighted the candle and began to examine the walls and floor critically, hoping to dis- cover a secret door. But he failed, failed utterly. If there was such a door, it was too cleverly concealed to be easily discovered. Putting out the light, finally, he closed the case and returned it to his pocket and sat down as a stool to think. Here was one of the greatest enigmas he had butted up against in some tite. But he meant to solve it if it took all suinmer. He made up his mind to that. Here was more proof that everything was not right at Humphryes’ Hermitage. Obliged to admit that he could not find where the men had gone to, he decided to wait there for them in a dark corner. Yet this was galling to a nature like his. That pretty girl was in need of his aid, and he knew not where to find her. He waited and watched for their coming, resolved to bring them up with a round turn if he caught them, but they did not appear. | The moon dropped out of sight behind the mountain crests, darkness followed, and then the darkness began to give way OUT OF SIGHT. to coming daylight, and still they came not. And finally Bertie gave it up. If he hoped to get back to his room without discovery, he would have to go at once. So, leaving the boathouse, he returned the way he had come and climbed up on the porch pillar to the roof and so re- gained his room. Everything there was as he had left it, and he threw himself’ on the lounge and slept until he heard some one pounding at his door, when he answered and was informed that breakfast was ready. Putting the lounge back to its place, he washed and combed and _ brushed himself up, and went down. His host greeted him in the hall. ‘“Well, how did you rest ?’’ he inquired. “Slept like a log, when I got at it,” Bertie answered, truthfully. ‘*Glad to hear it. You look as fresh as a flower this morning. Come right in to breakfast.”? Bertie followed him into the breakfast- room, where he found the other men as- sembled, even to the fellow with the stern face who had brought the young woman there. They took their places at the table, and the servants, all ien, waited upon them, and it was a splendid break fast. Bertie watched the conversation closely. Not a word ora hint, however, was let fall that could give him aclew to the secret. And yet he was resolved to know whiat it was and what had become of that young woman if it took hima year to ascertain—a resolve that meant business. After breakfast, the mad millionaire said: ‘Now, Diamond Dick, Jr., I must do myself the honor of showing you through the mansion and around the place.”’ ‘‘T am ready, sir,’’ said Bertie, prompt- ly. ‘‘Won’t these gentlemen accompany us ?”? ‘“Thev have already seen everything I can show them.”? ‘‘We prefer to remain here,’’ one spoke . up. ‘And we'll join you after awhile,” said Humphryes. ‘'This way, Mr. Wade, if you please.”? EO OO MMU S CO