Diamond Dick, Jr.'s Call Down; or, The King of the Silver Box — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

10 DIAMOND DICK LIBRANY. No. M16. ee a aa ee SSS ———e—E—E——eEeE————E ee ee column of blue smoke ascending skyward, ard he knew at ‘‘Being hard pressed in the Lost Pocket, I thought E once that Spitzer’s cabin had been fired. | would drop in here and wait for the affair to blow over. ‘“‘Confound that infernal Larkin!’’ growled the Don, as I’m glad I did. I heard you coming shortly after I arrived he whirled about and hurried back at a run. ‘and recognized the voice of Diamond Dick, Jr. So I As he came closer to the scene of the fire all doubts were secreted myself. You saved your worthy relative fronr removed. Imy machinations, did you? Good! I am glad to know Larkin had carried his bloody scheme of vengeance into that Diamond Dick, Jr., is to play the part of a farmer, [ effect. will meet him at Spitzer’s prospect hole, but I hardly ‘‘T’'ll pull Diamond Dick, Jr., out of that fire,’’ said think we shall make a deal in bogus money.”’ Ortego, increasing his speed, ‘‘if it’s the last thing lever; ‘(rtego,’’ said the cashier, fiercely, ‘‘you shall not leave do.” this room to-night.”’ ‘‘No, ye don’t, Don!”’ As these:words were uttered a brawny hand reached out from behind a bowlder, and the gamblsar was neatly| ‘Now? my boy, you're conversing through your head- tripped up by means of a stick which had been thrust be-| sear. You forget that I have the drop on you and that you tween his legs. are to do as I tell you to.”’ As he sprang to his feet again the Don found himself; ‘you will have to stay here and watch me,”’ replied the looking into the muzzle of a Winchester held by no less a young man, passionately, ‘‘for, unless you put a bullet person than Hankins. through my heart, I swear that you cannot tie me so ‘What do you mean, Hankins?’’ cried the Don, angrily. | securely but that I shall get away from you and warn “I mean that you're ter stop whar ye air! Make another | Diamond Dick, Jr., that you have discovered, our plot.’ Evans stepped in front of the door as he spoke. The Don laughed. step in the direction of that burnin’ cabin, an’ Tllpumpa)/ J] have no doubt but that-you would exert every effort bullet inter yer body. Sabe?”’ to do as you say, but I shall not tie you, and neither shall “You infernal scoundrel! Do you realize what you’re/{ stay here and watch you.”’ doing? Put up that gun!” . Putting the fingers of his left hand to his lips, the Don ‘Come off, Ortego! You can’t feaze me a little bit. | plew a shrill signal. Honest, vow, I'd hate ter hurt ve; but I can’t fergit Black ; Bruce, an’ Diamond Dick, Jr., has got to be treated ac- # moment) later steps mers Desty, sleng the Aen; ie 19) door flew open, and a bushy-bearded man presented him- a . ou mean to burn him alive?’’ carts i i eg cd ‘‘Want me, Don?’’ queried the new-comer, in a harsh Naw. voice ‘*But he’s caged up in that burning shanty.”’ “*So he is, an’ you’ve got ter set down on that pile o’ Bolivar stepped inside. rocks an’ waié till that shanty is plumb gone.” “Took at this man well, Evans. Iam going to leave ‘*You’re a cold-blooded villain, Hankins.’’ : ; . : cs ) , his ch , and if you can break away from h Mebbe. Anyhow, I’ve got the sand ter carry out what: cou ar 4 wy ele ame > q rata » 22 | way irom 11lm I swear to, an’ that’s jest whar you’re weak, Don. Set The cashier eyed Bolivar from head to heels. 1”? ’ * e s “ Opliged to comply with Hankins’ request, Ortego seated i sink cr Sie les at least six feet in height ‘ ; . ; -/ and proportioned like a herculeg. himself and lighted a cigar, watching the burning cabin | Beside hima Esane loolsed like’n pigmy. with thoughtful eyes. a ; 5h ~: ; ae . The roof fell; then, one by one, the walls caved into the |1,, Te ee es said Bolivar, ‘‘you kin b ing building, leaving the gaunt i ca till stand- . ing uprieht in ng, wuins.” = —_ Se ‘Watch him as a cat} would watch a mouse,” cautioned “Uph!"’ said the Don. ‘Nothing could hire me to do | the gambler, ‘‘and at the slightest move on his part to ‘*Yes. Come in, Bolivar.’’ what you and Larkin have done to-day, Hankins.’”’ | break away, use your guns.”’ Hankins grinned. u ‘Trust me. How long am I to keep him yere?”’ “That's because you’re a gentleman, Don, an’ like terdo! —. Lill eight o’clock to-morrow morning.”’ yer killin’ in a gentlemanly way. Larkin an’ I are only After giving Bolivar a few further instructions, the Don hobos, an’ when we’ve got ter do a chap we do him in the | 00K his departure. . way that comes handiest. Whar’s Bolivar?” | “Dm goin’ ter sit down,” said Bolivar, dropping into an “Bolivar’s all right. I won’t tell you where he is be- | easy-chair and resting the hand which held his revolver cause I see I can’t trust you. You're as ready to turn)02 One of the arms. ‘‘You kin do the same thing if ye against me as you are to eat a meal.”’ want to, pard.”” “Don’t you believe it, ole man. What we’ve done ter-|. Evans seated himself without a word, and a couple of day Larkin an’ I had ter do, that’s all.” hours passed away. ‘‘Was that stuff from the assay office taken care of?’’ Bolivar was vigilant as a hawk, and the muzzle of his “It was burned in the cabin. Thar’s no restraint on ye| weapon never deviated from its aim by a hair’s ‘breadth. now, Don. Ye kin goas ye please.”’ “Your name’s Bolivar, is it?’’ Evans finally queried. As he said this Hankins put up his guns, and the Don| ‘‘What’s that to you?’’ was the quick retort. walked over to the smoking embers of Spitzer’s cabin. ‘Nothing. ButIcan lay my hands on five hundred in The cage, being constructed of iron, had successfully | cold cash, and I wonder if I could make it any object to resisted the flames. you to——”’ On the floor of the cage lay an indistinguishable heap of} ‘‘Stop that, youngster.” something from which the Don turned witha feeling of| ‘‘I could possibly get hold of a thousand.”’ sickening disgust. “It wouldn’t help yer case any if ye could git hold of ‘‘Well,’? he muttered, ‘‘Diamond Dick, Jr.’s meteoric| ten thousand. Ye don’t know what a hold the ole man has career has been suddenly cut short. All that remains for | got on me, an’ I'll tell ye right now that if -I’d let ye go, I me to do now is to lay for those Bicknell diamonds.’’ might jest as well throw up my hands an’ pass out 0’ the And once more the gambler set his face toward Cripple | game. I’m goin’ ter set right vere, an’ you’re goin’ ter set Creek. right thar, an’ if ye do anythin’ rantankerous, I’m goin’ —___ ter shoot, an’ I won’t shoot wild, either.” Another hour passed away. CHAPTER VI. Pipe cashier was casting about in his mind for some plan of escape. HANDSOME HARRY SHOWS HIS HAND: He could not bear to think that Diamond Dick. Jr.. a We must now go back afew hours in our story and re-' man who had _ befriended him in his time of need was turn to Evans, the cashier, who was left in a decidedly about to become the victim of the Spanish Don. unpleasant situation. __' Something must be done, and Evans was on the point of ‘‘How did you manage to get in here, Ortego?’’ asked attempting a desperate step when a heavy footfall was Evans of the gambler. heard along the hall outside. COMICOOOKS.com