Diamond Dick, Jr.: The Boys' Best Weekly — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

DIAMOND DICK, Jk OUT OF SIGHT. id of vestibule into another and larger and erander room) than the first. “Now, what think you?’ the mad millionaire inquired. ‘‘How would you like to live here, away from all the noise and bustle of the busv world? Here nothi- ing can disturb, and here one can sleep on and on until nature has had her needs supplied and one wakes naturally, as is never the case in the world without. Some rude sound always breaks our rest —always. The air comes from the man- sion, supplied by an engine in the cellar there, and everything is perfection itself. Say, what think you?” “Very clever, I admit,’’? said Bertie. “Wouldn’t mind taking a snooze in such a place myself, sometime. ”? ‘Perhaps you may he able to do so, on another occasion. But, let me show you some of the wonders of the place while we are here. For instance, this alcove, or niche—lI step into it, so, press this button thus, and——’’ His voice was suddenly cut off, for the glass semi-circle turned with him, carry- ing him out of the room and seemingly into the lake itself, and a click announced the closing of the revolving niche in its new position. Bertie took a step forward, but too late. He saw the man step out from the half- circle into another of similar shape, across a narrow passage or vestibule, saw him press another button there, and saw that niche turn with hinr and place him safely within another chamber a few feet away. And theu, as if that were not enough, the vestibule between began to fill rapidly with water, and Diamond Dick, Jr., real- ized that he was a prisoner! CHAPTER IV. BERTIE’S UNDERWATER PRISON. Diamond Dick, Jr., felt a thrill of hor- ror at the realization. To deny this would be to deny that lie is human, but at the sdme time no ob- server could have read it 1n Is face. He stood watching Mr. Humphryes, having assumed a careless attitude, and waited to see what would be the next surprise on the programme. He knew as well then as he knew later that the passage by which he had entered this room had leen similarly cut off by water—that is, if they intended to im- prison him there. The mad millionaire was looking back at him through the intervening space with a smile of deviftsh malignity upon lis face. The water was rapidly rising between them. A faint sound could be heard, as the water forced the air out, and ina few minutes the vestibule was entirely filled. Mr. Humphryes then spoke, and lis voice reached the ears of his prisoner almost as plainly as. if he were in the sane room with lim, thongh Bertie did not understand how. ‘‘And what do you think now??? the man asked. ‘That was certainly well done,’’ Ber- tie answered. ‘‘I score one for you, Mr. Humphiryes. ’’ ‘*And you will score more for ime be- fore we are done with you. Do you realize that you are our prisoner—that there is 110 escape for you ?”? “Is that so?’ calinly. ‘Of course it is so. In no way can vou get out of the trap you are in, without our help.” “lf that is the case, then I shall have to remain here until you see fit to let ime out.”? ‘‘And if we never see fit to let you out, what then ?”? “Then I’]] continue to remain here— perhaps.’ ‘‘No perhaps about it. No one knows of the existence of this house of glass save inyself anda trusted few. Even the men who made it could never find it again. They were brought here from France, and were given to suppose that they were in Canada.” ““That was clever.”’ ‘‘And you have seen how well place is guarded.’ ‘Wes, remarkably well for a place that has nothing to conceal from the public and the authorities.”’ ‘Only a whim of the mad millionaire’s —ha! ha! Everybody believes that, and we could have made you believe it, too, but for that unforseen mishap of last night.”’ ‘Think so??? the o) CONIC JOOKSHEO