Diamond Dick, Jr.: The Boys' Best Weekly — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

DIAMOND DICK, JR. OUT OF SIGIIT. 3 ‘Why, there is, you bet! He lives in royal style, and entertains his friends like princes.’’ ‘““Your story gives me the notion that I would like to go and pay the place a visit mmyself—in fact, I think I will.”’ ‘But you don’t know Huimpliryes.’? That don’t matter; I can get ac- ' quainted with him. Where is your next stop—or rather, where can I make the closest connection with a train coming back ?”’ ‘““We pass No. 4at Stoney Junction, and you can come back on her. Just say that you want to get off at the Hermitage, and the conductor will stop there the same as J did for those persons.”’ “All right, and much obliged to you. I am coming back to pay ele mad million- aire a visit. " “Only wish that I “were coming with you. I have often thought I’d like to stop off and see what kind of a place he has got up there—they say it’s grand.”’ “Well, I’1] tell you all about it if I happen to coime away on your train, in return for putting nie on to it—I am always on the lookout for anything new and novel, when IJ have leisure.”’ “Then I hope you come back with me, for there is one thing I would like to know—what he did with all the glass that was shipped to him over this ‘road at the time he was building. They say he has got an all glass observatory o11 one of the high peaks up there.’’ ‘What kind of glass was it ?”’ “Why, plates of the biggest and thick- est kind. Used to take four horses to pull ’em up the grade from the side- track.”? “And he had a good many of them, you say ?”? “Ves; I won’t begin to say how tnany. The boys got to thinking that he must be making his house of glass, or half of it at any rate——— Hello!—here’s Hast- ings; see you again.” The train was slowing down to stop, and the conductor hurried out, leaving Diamond Dick, Jr., to his thoughts. “Ves, Iam going back to that place just for the satisfaction of seeing it,’’ Bertie said to himself. ‘‘Besides, and per- haps what is my real motive, I want to know more about that young woman. It strikes me that everything was not right with that couple; I didn’t like the way she acted. Maybe there is some kind of mischief afoot. Il] telegraph to the Ser- pent to come on with the Mascot and join me here, and if Iam used well we may stop over for a day or two.” The conductor talked with him further, as his duties permitted, and on reaching Stoney Junction Bertie said good-by to him and got aboard the other train and retraced his way to Huimphryes’ Hermi- tage. There the train stopped and he got off. Meantime he had sent the telegram as contemplated, and he knew that his old partner would meet him there on the INOrTOW. It was by this time night, but it was clear and bright and the moon was soar- ing 10 the heavens in all its splendor, so the road was plainly seen and easily followed. It gleamed white in the moonlight, save where its windings threw it into the shadows cast by the overhanging ledges and towering crags here and there, and as Bertie made his way up he could not but admire the rugged surroundings. At length the road came to an abrupt ending. Before him was a stone wall, high and strong between two cliffs, barring farther progress. . “Not a very inviting outside appear- ance, I°1l be bound,’’ said Bertie to him- self. ‘‘I wonder if this is all J am to re- ceive for my pains—— Hello! What’s that?” He felt something like a slender thread catch his leg as he took a step, and in- stantly the tinkle of a bell was heard somewhere within or beyond the wall, and Bertie stopped, with the exclama- tion given. Other sounds were heard immediately, then of a sudden something surprising happened. From two points, one on each side of the hard roadway, flashed forth lights of almost blinding whiteness, searching the road outside. Bertie was discovered at once, and the coinbined rays were focussed upon him, causing him to shield his eyes for a ime- COmiIclooks.cO nn