Diamond Dick, Jr.: The Boys' Best Weekly — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

DIAMOND DICK, JR. OUT OF SIGHT. 5 formation is wanted regarding any per- son. What more can you tell us about this youth—who is he? where does he spring from ?”? “One Thomas Wade married a woman called Dizma, and they had a son Rich- ard. This Richard became a noted sport and detective, and earned for himseif the sobriquet of Diamond Dick. He wasa strikingly hand some young man, an] married one Alice Reardon, as beautiful a woinan as ever lived. Diamond Dick, Jr., is their son.” “Anything more?’ “Diamond Dick, Jr., inherits the beauty of both parents. His father, owing to a torture he once endured, has—he i is still living—a face as white as marble, and this mark is also upon the son, but in a lesser degree. It gives to Diainond Dick, Jr., a complexion to make any wolnan jealous with envy—in fact, he has a woman’s skin, softer than satin, and he is entirely beardless. Jn woman's attire, he creates a sensation.”’ ‘Anything more ?”’ “if his father was a noted detective, the son, if possible, is even more noted in that line. No case is too difficult for him, and once he takes a job he never lets go until lis purpose has been accomplishied. His life appears to be under a charm, for nothing seems able to harm him. He has passed through dangers legion, and has a hundred times had “his life hanging by a thread, a3 it were. Jf J were a crim- inal, I would rather have the entire United States Secret Service on my track than this Diamond Dick, Jr.”’ ‘““Anvthing more ?”? ‘That is all, unless you ask for specific inforination regarding minor details.’”? “Enough, then. You know Diationd Dick, Jr., by sight?” “T do.” ‘Then just tell me whether or not I ain right in taking this youth to he Richard Wade, Jr. We have his state- ment that his name is Wade.”? The mad millionaire extended the phio- tograph to the man whom he had ad- dressed as Hagerty. The latter eave it one glance and an- swered: “This is Diamond Dick. Jr.’? Indeed, there could be to mistaking on the part of any one who had ever seen Diainond Dick, Jr., to know him. The picture showed him standing in the glare of strong lights, the rays of which crossed behind him and lighted up walls of rock on either hand, witile the ground where he stood seemed snow white. ‘‘Very good,’? said Humplhrves, ‘‘He is to be admitted, James,’’ to the foot- man, ‘‘and you will conduct him hither.” ‘“Ves, sir.”? The footman made a stiff bow and backed out, and the mad miilionaire gave asignal to the five or six men who were with him in the room and they moved their chairs nearer to him. “What are we to think of this visit?’ the proprietor of the mansion inquired. ‘'We are to look upon it with sus- picion,’’ said Hagerty. ‘““And how are we to receive thie visitor??? ‘““Has not that already been agreed upon? In fact, we have looked forward to his coming.” ‘““Rxactly. As we have received others, so we will receive him, openly. We’ll take him in as an honored guest, give him the freedom of the place for a dav or two, and make him think he is one of us.’” ‘‘And bid him God speed when he de- parts, ’? said another. “Andinvite him to come again,’’ put inathird. ‘‘Wehave nothing kere ot conceal from men of his calling.”? ‘*Assuredly not. Well, prepare to re- ceive one of the grcatest—if not the greatest —of the sport detectives of the day, Diamond Dick, Jr.”? ‘’We are ready for him.”’ Bertie was kept waiting several minutes after the lights disappeared. Presently a wide portal was opened by two doors swinging back out of place in the stone wall. Electric lights shone within, revealing a footman ready to receive and escort the visitor, and the same hard roadway con- tinued on through the narrow pass be- tween the cliffs. “Mr. Humpghryes will receive you, sir,’? said the footmen. ‘Fe does himself an honor,’’ said COMICHOOOKS CO